had found that

USAGE SUMMARY

'had found that' is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use 'had found that' when you are referring to a previous event or discovery. For example, "They had found that the creature had come from the lake."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In some excitement, the Argentines told her what they had found that day.

University of California, Berkeley

It took the NFL seven years to publicly acknowledge what Dr Omalu had found that day.

BBC

"And in this script I knew I had found that story".

Los Angeles Times

"We had found that monarch's burial place".

The New Yorker

And he had found that in this case".

The New Yorker

Judge Jackson had found that such tying was automatically illegal.

The New York Times

Whitman meanwhile had found that his brother's wound was minor.

The New York Times

He had found that "jolly old Fame" suited him.

The New York Times - Books

He had found that truth cannot be preached; it must be discovered.

The New Yorker

Other companies, however, had found that people worked more efficiently with well-designed furniture.

Harvard Business Review

But by Thursday he had found that long lost sword, and then fell on it.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had found that" to clearly indicate that a discovery or realization occurred in the past before another event. This helps to maintain a clear timeline in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "had found that" when the discovery and the subsequent event occur at the same time. In such cases, "found that" or "discovered that" in simple past tense is sufficient.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had found that" typically functions as part of a clause introducing reported speech or a reported finding. It connects a past discovery or realization to a subsequent statement. As shown in Ludwig, this construction is frequently used to present research results or past observations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Academia

24%

Science

21%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had found that" is a versatile phrase used to connect a past discovery to a subsequent event or statement. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and prevalence across various writing contexts. As highlighted by the examples, it frequently appears in news, academic, and scientific sources, indicating a neutral to formal register. When employing this phrase, it's essential to ensure proper tense sequencing and to choose appropriate alternatives like "discovered that" or "realized that" based on the specific context. Avoid using it when describing simultaneous events; otherwise, leverage its power to establish a clear timeline in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

discovered that

Replaces "found" with a more formal synonym, emphasizing the act of discovery.

realized that

Focuses on the moment of understanding or becoming aware of something.

determined that

Highlights the process of investigation or analysis leading to a conclusion.

ascertained that

Emphasizes the effort involved in learning something definitively.

observed that

Implies that the finding was based on careful observation.

noticed that

Suggests a more casual or less deliberate discovery.

learned that

Focuses on the acquisition of knowledge or information.

came to the conclusion that

Emphasizes a reasoned judgment based on evidence.

discovered evidence that

Highlights the uncovering of proof or supporting information.

established that

Implies a definitive confirmation or validation of a fact or idea.

FAQs

How can I use "had found that" in a sentence?

Use "had found that" to indicate a past discovery that has relevance to a later event or statement. For instance, "The scientists "had found that" the new drug was effective, which led to its widespread adoption."

What are some alternatives to "had found that"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "discovered that", "realized that", or "ascertained that" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "found that" instead of "had found that"?

Yes, "found that" is often correct, especially when describing a single event in the past. Use ""had found that"" to emphasize that the finding occurred before another point in the past.

What is the difference between "had found that" and "discovered that"?

"Had found that" indicates a past perfect tense, emphasizing that the finding happened before another past event. "Discovered that" is in the simple past tense and describes a finding without necessarily relating it to another past event.