had consulted about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had consulted about" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a past action of seeking advice or information regarding a specific topic or issue. Example: "Before making the final decision, she had consulted about the best options available for her project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

"We're considered sort of eyesores," said Mr. Knee, whom Mr. Brodsky had consulted about his renovation.

The New York Times

Nicola was infuriated when a dermatologist she had consulted about Katerina told her that she was being a "neurotic mother".

The New Yorker

She confirmed what she was told early on by two ceramics experts whom she had consulted about the jar's date: it was 1852, not 1832.

The New York Times - Arts

A representative of Alcan, a composites company with which the team had consulted about the material, called to ask about the men's research.

The New Yorker

He said that lawyers some of the former residents had consulted about possible legal action had been advised not to speak publicly.

The New York Times

He said he was put in touch with Ms. Gristina by a mutual friend, Vincent Parco, a private investigator whom Ms. Gristina had consulted about how she could check the backgrounds of clients for her planned dating Web site.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

The fact that these two statements were significantly associated with being a high impact non-consulter after adjustment for age and sex suggests that people may not have consulted about their high impact symptoms because of previous bad experiences with particular services or because treatments had not worked for them in the past.

BMC Family Practice

In addition to that, the government has consulted about a new scheme to provide support for up to 20% of a working family's childcare costs.

BBC

Current job: President, TQM International Private Limited, New Delhi, India; Consultant for Lean, Lean Six Sigma, DFSS and Deming Prize; have facilitated more than 500 Quality Improvement projects in various industry sectors; and have consulted about 10 Deming Prize companies in India.

International Journal of Quality Innovation

Moreover, President Putin is the last person Mr. Carter should have consulted about a peace plan for Syria.

Huffington Post

To determine CAM use among patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain who have consulted about their pain in primary care.

BMC Family Practice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using synonyms like "sought advice on" or "discussed with regarding" to add variety to your writing and avoid repetition.

Common error

Avoid using "consulted with" and "consulted about" interchangeably. "Consulted with" generally refers to consulting with a person or entity, whereas "consulted about" refers to consulting about a topic or issue. For example, it's correct to say "She had consulted with a lawyer," but "She had consulted about legal matters."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had consulted about" functions as a past perfect verb phrase, indicating that an action of seeking advice or information occurred before another point in the past. It highlights the prior consultation on a particular subject. Ludwig, with its examples, helps illustrate how this phrase is used in context.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

43%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had consulted about" is a grammatically sound phrase used to indicate that someone sought advice or information on a specific topic before a particular time in the past. According to Ludwig, this phrase appears in various contexts, primarily in news and scientific sources. The phrase has a neutral to formal register, indicating that is suitable for professional and academic writing. When using this phrase, ensure that the subject of consultation is clearly identified to avoid ambiguity. Consider alternatives such as "sought advice regarding" to diversify your writing and provide contextual clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sought advice regarding

Replaces "consulted" with "sought advice", emphasizing the act of asking for counsel, and "about" with "regarding", which has a more formal tone.

obtained guidance concerning

Substitutes "consulted" with "obtained guidance", highlighting the reception of direction. "Concerning" offers a slightly more formal alternative to "about".

conferred with regarding

Uses "conferred with" instead of "consulted about", implying a more formal and collaborative discussion to gain information. "Regarding" replaces "about" for a more formal tone.

discussed with in relation to

Replaces "consulted" with "discussed with", indicating a simple conversation, and "about" with "in relation to", a more verbose and formal construction.

sought input on

Replaces the verb and preposition to use a single preposition. The alternative indicates that information or a professional opinion was requested.

made inquiries regarding

The alternative means that the subject was investigated in a formal way.

got advice concerning

The verb 'got' makes the phrase sound more informal than the original phrase.

talked with pertaining to

Uses "talked with" for "consulted about", suggesting a casual conversation. "Pertaining to" is a formal replacement for "about".

asked for advice on

This alternative is more generic than the original phrase. The alternative has a more direct meaning.

had a discussion on

Substitutes "consulted about" with "had a discussion on", reducing the sense of formal advice-seeking to a general conversation.

FAQs

What does "had consulted about" mean?

The phrase "had consulted about" means someone sought advice or information from an expert or knowledgeable source regarding a specific topic. It indicates a past action of seeking guidance.

What can I say instead of "had consulted about"?

You can use alternatives like "sought advice regarding", "obtained guidance concerning", or "conferred with regarding" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "had consulted with" instead of "had consulted about"?

"Had consulted with" usually refers to consulting with a person, while "had consulted about" refers to consulting about a topic. They are not always interchangeable; use "had consulted with" when indicating the person consulted.

How do I use "had consulted about" in a sentence?

Use "had consulted about" when describing a past action where someone sought advice or information on a specific matter. For example: "Before making the decision, she had consulted about the potential risks involved."