Used and loved by millions
Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
had formerly determined
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "had formerly determined" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a decision or conclusion that was made in the past before a certain point in time. Example: "The committee had formerly determined the budget allocation before the new proposals were submitted."
✓ Grammatically correct
Alternative expressions(2)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
60 human-written examples
It had formerly been 6,000.
News & Media
He had he had formerly published in Nashville, Tennesee.
News & Media
WHO had formerly controlled the area and its people?
News & Media
Scotland had formerly been strong Labour Party territory.
News & Media
Students had formerly been housed at Kibbutz Ramat Rachel.
Wiki
Melnick had formerly served as the publicist for the series.
Wiki
To determine the effect of this curriculum-based research experience on student career trajectories, we obtained demographic and attitudinal data on students who had formerly taken a GEP course or served as a TA in a GEP course.
Science
Medics who had formerly been soldiers mentioned being easily startled by loud noises.
Science
α Had formerly immigrated from countries in South Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe; these participants spoke English as a second language.
Science
We had formerly used these data for a study on publication bias [ 27].
One study similar to ours only had formerly exposed individuals (Kreiss et al. 1993b).
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When using "had formerly determined", ensure the context clearly establishes the timeline; the 'had' indicates a past action completed before another point in time.
Common error
Avoid using "had formerly determined" when the simple past tense would suffice. Overusing the past perfect can make writing sound unnecessarily complex.
Source & Trust
60%
Authority and reliability
4.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "had formerly determined" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect tense. According to Ludwig AI, it describes an action of determining something that occurred before another action in the past. The use of "formerly" adds emphasis to the prior nature of the determination.
Frequent in
Science
0%
News & Media
0%
Formal & Business
0%
Less common in
Science
0%
News & Media
0%
Formal & Business
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, "had formerly determined" is a grammatically correct phrase used to indicate a past decision or conclusion that has relevance to a subsequent event. According to Ludwig AI, it emphasizes the timing of the determination. Although correct, it is infrequent in occurrence, suggesting that simpler alternatives like "had previously decided" are more commonly used. The phrase carries a formal tone, making it suitable for academic or professional contexts.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
had previously decided
Replaces "formerly determined" with "previously decided", offering a slightly simpler and more common alternative.
had earlier resolved
Substitutes "formerly determined" with "earlier resolved", suggesting a more formal and decisive prior action.
had once concluded
Replaces "formerly determined" with "once concluded", emphasizing a conclusion reached at some point in the past.
had at one time ascertained
Substitutes "formerly determined" with "at one time ascertained", indicating a more formal and definitive finding in the past.
had beforehand established
Replaces "formerly determined" with "beforehand established", highlighting that the determination was made in advance.
had already settled
Substitutes "formerly determined" with "already settled", suggesting the matter had been resolved before a certain point.
had predetermined
Replaces "formerly determined" with "predetermined", emphasizing that the decision was made in advance and was inflexible.
had earlier judged
Replaces "formerly determined" with "earlier judged", which often implies a judgment or assessment was made previously.
had previously ascertained
A more formal alternative, replacing 'formerly determined' with 'previously ascertained', suggesting the matter was established with certainty before.
had long since decided
Replacing "formerly determined" with "long since decided", which indicates a decision that was made quite some time ago.
FAQs
How can I use "had formerly determined" in a sentence?
Use "had formerly determined" to describe a decision or conclusion that was reached at a point in the past before another event occurred. For example, "The council had formerly determined the budget allocation before the new proposals were submitted".
What are some alternatives to saying "had formerly determined"?
You can use alternatives like "had previously decided", "had earlier resolved", or "had once concluded" depending on the context.
What's the difference between "had formerly determined" and "had determined"?
"Had determined" simply indicates that a determination was made in the past. "Had formerly determined" implies that this determination was made at a specific point in the past, before another event or change occurred.
Is it better to use "had formerly determined" or "previously determined"?
Both are grammatically correct. "Had formerly determined" emphasizes the temporal sequence, whereas "previously determined" is generally simpler and more direct, making it often the preferred choice. Consider the context when deciding.
Editing plus AI, all in one place.
Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
60%
Authority and reliability
4.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested