had done

USAGE SUMMARY

'had done' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to talk about something that was completed in the past before another event occurred. For example: She had done all her homework before she left for school.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

had done.

The New Yorker

Who had done it?

The New York Times - Magazine

I had done it.

The New York Times - Travel

I had done that!

The New York Times - Books

had done what the White House had done.

The New Yorker

Now they had done it.

Independent

He had done his job.

The Economist

He had done enough talking.

The New York Times

He had done nothing wrong.

The New Yorker

And I had done it.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

He had done it.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had done" to clearly establish the sequence of past events, ensuring the action was completed before another past action. For example, "She had done her homework before she watched TV."

Common error

Avoid using "had done" when a simple past tense is sufficient. Overusing past perfect can make your writing sound unnatural. For example, instead of saying "I had done eat dinner when he arrived", say "I ate dinner when he arrived".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had done" functions as a past perfect construction, indicating an action completed before another point in the past. This is confirmed by Ludwig and the examples provided, which show it setting a clear chronological order in narratives.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had done" is a grammatically sound and frequently used past perfect construction. As confirmed by Ludwig, it serves to indicate an action completed before another point in the past, which establishes the sequence of events and clarifies the timing of past actions. While highly versatile, avoid overuse to maintain a natural writing style. Alternatives such as "had completed", "had finished", and "had accomplished" can offer nuanced variations in meaning. The phrase is most commonly found in news and media sources, which indicates its appropriateness for various writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had completed

A more direct synonym for "had done", focusing on the act of finishing something.

had finished

A simpler, more informal way of saying "had done".

had accomplished

Replaces "done" with a more formal term, emphasizing completion of something challenging.

had achieved

Similar to 'had accomplished', but focuses on the successful attainment of a goal.

had performed

Emphasizes the execution of a task or duty.

had executed

Similar to 'had performed', but suggests a more planned or deliberate action.

had carried out

Focuses on the completion of a plan or instruction.

had undertaken

Implies that someone had taken on a responsibility or task.

had enacted

Suggests the implementation of a law or policy.

had worked on

Focuses on the effort invested in a task, rather than just its completion.

FAQs

How is "had done" used in a sentence?

"Had done" indicates an action completed before another action in the past. For example, "By the time I arrived, she "had done" all the preparations."

What are some alternatives to "had done"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "had completed", "had finished", or "had accomplished" instead of "had done".

Is it always necessary to use "had done" when referring to a past action?

No, it's not always necessary. Use "had done" only when it's important to show that one action was completed before another. Otherwise, simple past tense is sufficient.

What is the difference between "did" and "had done"?

"Did" refers to a simple action in the past, while "had done" refers to an action completed before another action in the past. For example, "I did my chores" vs "I "had done" my chores before my friends arrived".