had edged

USAGE SUMMARY

"had edged" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is the past tense of the verb "edge," which means to move or shift gradually. It can also mean to be in a slight or gradual state of change or improvement. Here is an example of "had edged" used in a sentence: She had edged closer to the edge of the cliff, her heart pounding with fear. In this example, "had edged" is used to describe the gradual movement of the subject closer to the edge of the cliff. It can also imply a sense of danger or precariousness in the situation. Another example: The company had edged ahead of its competitors, thanks to its innovative marketing strategies. In this sentence, "had edged" is used to describe the gradual improvement or progress of the company compared to its competitors. It can also suggest a sense of competition and success.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Football had edged Chávez, and politics, out of the limelight.

The Guardian - Sport

Rami had edged away, but not far enough.

The New York Times

By the middle of 2011, it had edged up only about $7 a square foot.

The New York Times

Before stalling in October, prices had edged up in each of the previous five months.

The Economist

It was an excellent catch after Siddle had edged a smart out-swinger from Jimmy Anderson.

Independent

For years we had edged toward each other without moving all the way.

The New Yorker

Mr. Meyer said WB had "edged into profitability" during a couple of its 11 years.

The New York Times

By the close, the shares had edged back to 282.75p, still down 35.45% for the day.

The Guardian - Money

Family life, for the first time, had edged out tennis as his priority.

The Guardian - Sport

Canyon Vista defended its title (it had edged out Hunter on a tie-breaker last year).

The New York Times

By late afternoon, the shares had edged back to 28.81 euros, a gain of 1percentt.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had edged" to describe a situation where a slight, gradual change has occurred, often in a competitive context. Consider alternatives if a different nuance is needed.

Common error

Avoid using "had edged" when describing substantial or abrupt changes. This phrase is best suited for scenarios involving small, incremental shifts. If a dramatic change occurred, use alternatives like "surged", "plummeted", or "skyrocketed."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had edged" functions as a past perfect verb phrase, indicating an action that was completed before another point in the past. It modifies a noun or pronoun by describing how it achieved a certain state or position. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its use in various contexts like sports, finance and general news.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Sport

26%

Business

15%

Less common in

Science

8%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had edged" is a versatile past perfect verb phrase used to describe gradual movements, slight improvements, or narrow victories. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and frequently employed across diverse contexts, particularly in news, sports, and business reporting. When using this phrase, remember it is more suitable for small changes and not dramatic ones. Ludwig's examples show the best way to write better by taking into account source quality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had squeezed past

Suggests a tight, competitive situation where a small advantage was gained.

had narrowly surpassed

Emphasizes a slight margin of victory or achievement.

had inched ahead of

Conveys a sense of slow, deliberate progress with difficulty.

had gained a slight lead

Focuses on the acquisition of a small advantage in a competitive context.

had gradually overtaken

Highlights the slow, progressive nature of the action.

had crept ahead

Highlights a stealthy or subtle advance.

had slightly outdone

Underscores a minor improvement or performance difference.

had incrementally exceeded

Focuses on the small, measured increases that led to surpassing a limit.

had marginally bettered

Indicates a small degree of improvement compared to a previous state.

had advanced marginally

Emphasizes a small step forward.

FAQs

How can I use "had edged" in a sentence?

Use "had edged" to describe a slow, gradual movement or shift. For example, "The company "had edged ahead" of its competitors in market share."

What are some alternatives to "had edged"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "had narrowly surpassed", "had gradually overtaken", or "had slightly outdone".

Is it appropriate to use "had edged" in formal writing?

Yes, "had edged" is suitable for formal writing, particularly in business or news contexts, where it can describe gradual changes or slight advantages.

What's the difference between "had edged" and "had surpassed"?

"Had edged" implies a small, gradual movement past a point, while "had surpassed" suggests a more significant and decisive passing of a threshold.