had come about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had come about" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe how a situation or event has occurred or come into existence. Example: "The changes in policy had come about due to the feedback from the community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

The discovery had come about by chance.

The Guardian

And, finally, she repeated that the whole imbroglio had come about in an innocent fashion.

The New Yorker

Kim said the changes had come about because knowledge was not flowing through the organisation.

The Guardian

I asked how it had come about: "Well, I had been in the library all day.

Independent

This had come about because of the close ties between Dundee University and the V&A.

The Guardian

'We thought this tragedy had come about because she had not confided in anyone.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

This has come about in the past two seasons.

The New York Times - Sports

Why should this have come about?

The Guardian - Books

Systematic methods for idea generation in engineering design have come about from a variety of sources.

Design Studies

Intelligent automation of the manufacture of worm gear drives has come about because of the requirements of modern manufacturing.

The Theory and Practice of Worm Gear Drives

For TED, "radical openness" has come about by degrees.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had come about" to describe how a situation or event has developed or arisen, particularly when emphasizing the process or circumstances leading to it.

Common error

Avoid using "has come about" when referring to events that concluded in the past; use "had come about" to maintain the correct past perfect tense.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had come about" functions as a phrasal verb in the past perfect tense. According to Ludwig AI, it describes how a situation or event has occurred or come into existence. It often connects a past event to its preceding causes or developments, as seen in numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had come about" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe how an event or situation developed in the past. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is frequently used in news, science, and encyclopedic contexts to provide background and explain the origins of something. When writing, remember to use "had come about" when referring to a past event's development and consider related phrases like "had occurred" or "had arisen" for subtle differences in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been brought about

Emphasizes an external force or action causing something to happen.

had occurred

Focuses on the event itself, lacking the implication of a process or cause.

had happened

A general term for an event taking place, less specific about the process leading to it.

had arisen

Emphasizes the emergence of a situation or problem.

had emerged

Similar to 'arisen', but implies a more gradual or noticeable appearance.

had resulted

Highlights the outcome or consequence of a prior action or situation.

had developed

Focuses on the gradual growth or evolution of something.

had originated

Highlights the point of origin or initial cause.

had transpired

A more formal or literary way of saying something happened.

had materialized

Suggests something becoming real or visible after a period of being potential.

FAQs

How can I use "had come about" in a sentence?

Use "had come about" to describe how a situation or event developed in the past. For example: "The changes in policy "had come about" due to the feedback from the community."

What are some alternatives to "had come about"?

You can use alternatives such as "had occurred", "had arisen", or "had resulted" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "has come about" instead of "had come about"?

"Has come about" refers to something that happened recently or is still relevant in the present, while ""had come about"" refers to something that occurred and concluded in the past.

What's the difference between "had come about" and "was brought about"?

"Had come about" implies a more natural or evolutionary process, while "was brought about" suggests an external force or deliberate action caused the event.