had gone well

USAGE SUMMARY

"had gone well" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to refer to a past event that went as expected or that had a favorable outcome as in the example sentence: "The meeting had gone well, and we were all pleased with the outcome."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It had gone well.

The New York Times

The first day had gone well.

The New York Times - Arts

The taping had gone well.

The New Yorker

"The propagation had gone well," she said.

The New York Times

Nigeria's information minister said the voting had gone well.*www.afrobarometer.org.org

The Economist

The coalition said early stages had gone well.

The Economist

My work had gone well that day, pretty well.

The New Yorker

Mr Hain thought this meeting had gone well.

The Economist

I thought that the talk had gone well.

The New Yorker

And that was after everything had gone well.

The New Yorker

It had gone well, but there was still no word.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had gone well" to describe a past event or process that concluded favorably, emphasizing the positive outcome.

Common error

Avoid using "had gone well" when referring to ongoing or future events. This phrase specifically indicates a completed action in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had gone well" functions as a verb phrase, specifically in the past perfect tense. It indicates the successful completion of an action or event before another point in time, as evidenced by the examples in Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had gone well" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe the successful completion of a past event. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for indicating that something concluded favorably. Its prevalence in news sources and its versatility make it suitable for various contexts. While alternatives like "went smoothly" or "turned out successfully" exist, "had gone well" remains a clear and effective way to communicate a positive past outcome.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

went smoothly

Focuses on the absence of problems during the event.

turned out successfully

Emphasizes the positive outcome or result.

was a success

Highlights the overall achievement of the event.

progressed favorably

Implies a positive advancement or development over time.

was fruitful

Suggests that the event yielded positive results or benefits.

materialized as expected

Indicates that the event unfolded in accordance with prior anticipation.

was accomplished effectively

Focuses on the efficiency and competence with which the activity was carried out.

culminated positively

Suggests that the event reached a satisfactory conclusion.

panned out well

An idiomatic expression indicating a favorable resolution or consequence.

was a resounding success

Emphasizes an unqualified and notable achievement.

FAQs

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

You can use "had gone well" to describe a past event that was successful. For example, "The interview "had gone well", and I was offered the job."

What are some alternatives to saying "had gone well"?

Alternatives include "went smoothly", "turned out successfully", or "was a success", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "has gone well" instead of "had gone well"?

No, "has gone well" refers to the present perfect tense, indicating an event that started in the past and continues to have relevance in the present. "Had gone well" is in the past perfect tense, referring to a completed action before another point in the past. If the event is completely in the past, "had gone well" is more appropriate.

What's the difference between "went well" and "had gone well"?

"Went well" is simple past tense. "Had gone well" is past perfect, suggesting that the event's success was relevant to a later event in the past. For example, "The presentation "went well"." vs. "The presentation "had gone well", so I was confident about the proposal."