had cancelled

USAGE SUMMARY

"had cancelled" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you need to indicate past perfect tense. For example, "He had cancelled the meeting when she arrived."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Of these, it had cancelled just 35.

The Economist

Someone had cancelled the coaches last night.

The Guardian - Business

US authorities had cancelled his American passport.

The Guardian

Jetstar had cancelled at least six flights and Virgin had cancelled at least 10.

The Guardian

Chloë Sevigny had cancelled, as she had with Meisel.

The New Yorker

Two bomb attacks had cancelled two international tours.

The Guardian

By early evening, we had cancelled the plan.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

Claiming illness, Pavarotti had canceled both performances.

The New York Times - Arts

By Friday, seven groups had canceled events.

HuffPost

@ManCityCouncil have cancelled my ticket.

Independent

I could have cancelled.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had cancelled" to clearly indicate an action that was completed before another point in the past. For example, "By the time I arrived, he had cancelled the order."

Common error

Avoid using "had cancelled" when simple past tense is sufficient. If the cancellation is the main event being discussed and there's no prior past event to reference, use "cancelled" instead of "had cancelled".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had cancelled" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect tense. This grammatical structure indicates an action that was completed before another point in time in the past. According to Ludwig AI, this usage aligns with standard English grammar rules and is suitable for written communication.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Formal & Business

13%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had cancelled" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to express an action completed before another point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. Predominantly found in news and business contexts, its register is generally neutral to professional. When writing, ensure you use it to accurately depict the sequence of past events. Alternatives such as "had called off" or "had revoked" can be used for variety, depending on the specific meaning you wish to convey. Remember to use the simple past tense "cancelled" if no prior event is being referenced. Pay attention to tense sequencing. Given its prevalence and clear grammatical function, mastering "had cancelled" enhances the precision and clarity of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had called off

Replaces "cancelled" with a phrasal verb emphasizing the act of stopping a planned event.

had aborted

Suggests a termination of something that was in progress, carrying a sense of incompletion.

had revoked

Implies the official or legal withdrawal of a permission or right.

had withdrawn

Conveys the removal of something, such as an offer or participation.

had suspended

Indicates a temporary halting of something, often with the possibility of resumption.

had terminated

Suggests a definitive end to something, with no expectation of continuation.

had scrubbed

An informal term meaning to cancel or abandon, often used in technical or space-related contexts.

had axed

Implies a forceful or abrupt cancellation, often due to budget cuts or other drastic measures.

had overturned

Suggests the reversal of a decision or ruling.

had repealed

Specifically refers to the cancellation of a law or regulation.

FAQs

How to use "had cancelled" in a sentence?

Use "had cancelled" to indicate an action that was completed before another action in the past. For example, "She "had cancelled" the appointment before I even had a chance to confirm it."

What can I say instead of "had cancelled"?

You can use alternatives such as "had called off", "had revoked", or "had terminated" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "had cancelled" or "cancelled"?

Both are correct, but they convey different meanings. Use "had cancelled" to indicate an action completed before another past action. Use "cancelled" for a simple past action without reference to a prior event.

What's the difference between "had cancelled" and "was cancelled"?

"Had cancelled" is past perfect active, meaning someone performed the action of cancelling. "Was cancelled" is past simple passive, indicating that something was cancelled, but the actor is not specified or relevant. For instance, "She "had cancelled" the meeting" vs "The meeting "was cancelled" due to weather."