had attained

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had attained" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a past action which has been completed, often accompanied by another verb such as "achieve". For example: "By the time she had attained the age of 20, she had achieved her dream of becoming a doctor."

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedias

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

By 1867 he had attained the rank of rear admiral.

Britannica

Born at Bury in 1820, the deceased had attained the sixty-third year of his age.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

L. 87 64, § 102(c)(2)(C), (3)(D), substituted "as though he had attained age 62 (if a woman) or age 65 (if a man)" for "as though he had attained retirement age", and "fully insured and had attained age 62" for "fully insured and had attained retirement age", in two places.

Cornell University

By this time he had attained an eminence far beyond the world of academia.

The Guardian - Books

Each language of the world had attained its own stage of evolution.

Britannica

By the time he became President, his ignorance had attained a kind of comic poignancy.

The New Yorker

A spokesman refused to comment on the grades he had attained.

The Guardian

After he had attained adulthood, a young Greek could participate in military service and could marry.

Britannica

No other Israeli leader had attained that much affection since the assassination of Mr. Rabin.

The New York Times

He felt he had attained the American dream when he bought the house.

The New York Times

Did he think Foreman had attained the peak of his comeback?

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had attained" to indicate that a certain level or status was reached at some point in the past, especially when discussing progress or development over time.

Common error

Avoid using "had attained" when simply meaning "had obtained". "Attained" implies a significant effort or progress towards achieving something, while "obtained" is more general.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had attained" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect tense, indicating the completion of an action before another point in the past. Ludwig AI shows multiple examples where this phrase is used to describe the achievement of a certain rank, status, or level.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

24%

News & Media

25%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

3%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had attained" is a versatile phrase used to express the completion of an action in the past, typically involving the achievement of a goal or status. Ludwig AI indicates that it's grammatically correct and suitable for both formal and neutral registers, as evidenced by its frequent occurrence in academic, scientific, and news contexts. While alternatives like "had achieved" or "had reached" exist, "had attained" carries a specific nuance of effort and progress. When writing, ensure that "had attained" is used to describe actual reaching of an aim instead of simple possession. The phrase is prevalent across various authoritative sources, affirming its consistent and reliable usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had achieved

Replaces "attained" with "achieved", focusing on the successful completion of something, with a high degree of interchangeability.

had reached

Substitutes "attained" with "reached", indicating arrival at a specific point or level, and is very close in meaning.

had gained

Uses "gained" instead of "attained", emphasizing the acquisition of something, with only a slight shift in focus.

had secured

Replaces "attained" with "secured", highlighting the effort and certainty in acquiring something.

had obtained

Employs "obtained" in place of "attained", stressing the process of coming into possession of something, with very similar implications.

had acquired

Replaces "attained" with "acquired", focusing on gaining possession or control.

had accomplished

Substitutes "attained" with "accomplished", emphasizing the successful completion of a task or goal and maintaining a sense of achievement.

had realized

Uses "realized" instead of "attained", implying the fulfillment of a potential or ambition, with a subtle shift in meaning.

had fulfilled

Replaces "attained" with "fulfilled", stressing the completion of a requirement or promise.

had met

Substitutes "attained" with "met", emphasizing the satisfaction of a requirement or standard, with a subtle difference in meaning.

FAQs

How can I use "had attained" in a sentence?

You can use "had attained" to describe reaching a certain status or level in the past, for example, "By 1867 he "had attained" the rank of rear admiral."

What's a good alternative to "had attained"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "had achieved", "had reached", or "had gained" as alternatives to "had attained".

Is "had attained" formal or informal?

"Had attained" is suitable for both formal and neutral contexts. It indicates a level of accomplishment, suitable for academic papers, news reports, or professional communication.

What is the difference between "had attained" and "had obtained"?

"Had attained" suggests reaching a goal or level after effort, whereas "had obtained" simply means to have gotten something. So, "had obtained" is more general and doesn't necessarily imply effort or progress like "had attained" does.