had gone by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had gone by" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that a certain amount of time has passed or elapsed. Example: "By the time she arrived, several hours had gone by since the meeting started."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Hours had gone by".

The New York Times

Less than a minute had gone by.

The New Yorker

Two weeks had gone by like this.

The New Yorker

And seven years had gone by.

The New York Times

I thought enough time had gone by.

The New York Times

Most heavy industry had gone by the 1980s.

The Economist

They had gone by the time the attack happened.

The Economist

After two hours had gone by, management was becoming anxious.

The New York Times - Sports

"Before I knew it, a decade had gone by.

The New York Times

It was like not a minute had gone by.

The Guardian - Music

For years, not a week had gone by without news of yet another killing.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had gone by" to clearly indicate that a certain amount of time has passed before a specific event or point in time. This helps establish a chronological sequence in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "had gone by" when the context requires a simpler past tense. Ensure that the past perfect tense is necessary to show that the action of time passing was completed before another action occurred.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had gone by" functions as a verb phrase indicating the completion of a period of time. As evidenced by Ludwig, it's often used to establish a temporal context, showing that a duration has elapsed before another event.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

87%

Wiki

3%

Huffington Post

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had gone by" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that a certain amount of time has passed. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. It is particularly prevalent in news and media contexts, serving to establish temporal relationships between events. While alternatives like "had passed" or "had elapsed" exist, "had gone by" maintains a neutral tone suitable for diverse writing styles. Avoid using it if the past perfect tense isn't necessary and ensure clarity in your writing by using it to show action completion before another action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had elapsed

Replaces "gone by" with a more formal synonym, focusing on the completion of a time period.

had passed

Uses a simpler and more direct synonym for "gone by", indicating the movement of time.

had transpired

Emphasizes the occurrence of events during the time that has passed.

had rolled by

Uses a more figurative and vivid way to describe the passing of time.

had slipped away

Implies a subtle and often unnoticed passing of time.

had flown by

Suggests that time passed quickly and effortlessly.

had disappeared

Focuses on the vanishing of time, often implying a sense of loss or regret.

had proceeded

Emphasizes the continuous and onward movement of time.

had advanced

Highlights the forward progression of time.

had concluded

Focuses on the completion and ending of a certain time frame.

FAQs

How can I use "had gone by" in a sentence?

You can use "had gone by" to indicate that a certain amount of time passed before a specific event. For instance, "By the time the rescue team arrived, several hours "had gone by"."

What can I say instead of "had gone by"?

You can use alternatives like "had elapsed", "had passed", or "had transpired" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "had gone by" over "passed"?

"Had gone by" implies a more extended duration or a sense of time elapsing before a specific event, while "passed" is a more general term for the movement of time. The best alternative depends on the context you are trying to create.

Is "had gone by" formal or informal?

"Had gone by" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, as seen from examples across diverse domains.