had declared

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had declared" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that a declaration was made in the past before another past event. Example: "By the time the meeting started, the committee had declared their decision on the proposal."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Mr Akitani had declared himself president.

The Economist

Dudayev had declared Chechnya's independence in 1991.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"Fuck the politicians," he had declared, to rapturous applause.

Independent

The Obama Administration had declared a national public-health emergency.

The New Yorker

Ms. Maynard had declared herself "happy, happy, happy".

The New York Times

Before the race, a psychiatrist had declared him "distressingly normal".

The Economist

Mr. M. had declared that he was not retiring.

The New Yorker

However, an independent physician had declared that it was benign.

The New York Times

President Putin had declared Estonia an enemy state.

The Guardian - Books

Miliband had "declared war on capitalists", the Daily Mail shrieked.

The Guardian - Opinion

The materials removed were those that the regime had declared.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had declared", ensure the context clearly indicates who made the declaration and what was declared to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "had declared" when the declaration and the subsequent event occur at the same time. In such cases, the simple past tense ("declared") is more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had declared" functions as a past perfect verb phrase. It indicates that an action of declaring something was completed before another point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and frequent usage in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Encyclopedias

8%

Science

6%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had declared" is a past perfect verb phrase used to indicate that a declaration occurred before another past event. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct and very commonly used. It is found most frequently in news and media, encyclopedias, and science contexts. When writing, use it to establish a clear timeline and ensure the context makes clear who made the declaration and what was declared. Alternatives include "had announced", "had stated", and "had proclaimed", depending on the desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had announced

Replaces "declared" with a more general term for making something known.

had proclaimed

Suggests a more formal or public announcement than "declared".

had stated

A more neutral and less emphatic way of saying "declared".

had asserted

Emphasizes the confidence or forcefulness with which the statement was made.

had affirmed

Suggests confirming something already known or believed.

had maintained

Implies consistently stating something over time, even if disputed.

had professed

Indicates openly declaring a belief or feeling.

had avowed

A more formal and emphatic way of saying "declared" or "stated".

had testified

Suggests a formal declaration, often in a legal or official setting.

had divulged

Implies revealing something previously secret or unknown.

FAQs

How to use "had declared" in a sentence?

Use "had declared" to indicate an action of declaring that was completed before another action in the past. For example: "By the time the authorities arrived, the company "had declared" bankruptcy."

What can I say instead of "had declared"?

You can use alternatives like "had announced", "had stated", or "had proclaimed" depending on the context.

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

Use "had declared" when you want to emphasize that the declaration happened before another past action. If you're simply stating that a declaration happened in the past without reference to another event, "declared" is sufficient.

What's the difference between "had declared" and "announced"?

"Had declared" implies a formal or official statement, while "announced" is a more general term for making something known. The choice depends on the level of formality you wish to convey.