had happened regularly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had happened regularly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an event or action that occurred repeatedly in the past before another event took place. Example: "Before the new policy was implemented, meetings had happened regularly every Monday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

During Mr. Malik's rebellion, he said, that had happened regularly.

The New York Times

This is what had happened regularly to Italy during the post-war period, when its inflation rate was invariably higher than that in Germany.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Studies of pond sediments along the fault suggest that these large, strain-relieving tremors have happened regularly in the past.

The New Yorker

Things like that could have happened regularly in the past and people could have been swept out to sea and washed ashore on Flores.

The Guardian

N.F.L. officials expect fewer teams to take large leaps of faith with troubled players, as has happened regularly in the past.

The New York Times - Sports

And although public debt does not by itself fuel inflation, it can tempt governments to pursue an inflationary policy, as has happened regularly in Italy in recent years.

The New York Times

As has happened regularly in recent years, the disparities and the confusion caused by the "equalization" of the tax rates has promoted renewed calls for an overhaul of the way the county assesses property.

The New York Times

"I had an incendiary mishap, something that seems to have happened regularly to Joseph Conrad — the incendiary mishaps, not the burning cities".

Los Angeles Times

In France, debates have happened regularly since 1974 (although President Jacques Chirac refused to debate far-right candidate Jean-Marie Le Pen in 2002).

Huffington Post

In her essay for Teen Vogue, Gonzalez notes that school shootings have happened regularly all her life ― the Columbine High School shooting in April 1999 was only a few months before she was born.

Huffington Post

The Boston Globe recently took a look back at executions in the U.S -- from 1890 to 2010 -- and found botched attempts have happened regularly no matter what the mode of death.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had happened regularly" to describe a series of events that occurred consistently before a specific point in time. It emphasizes the repeated nature of the events within a past timeframe. For example: Before the new regulations, safety violations "had happened regularly".

Common error

Avoid using "had happened regularly" to describe events that are currently happening. This phrase refers to past, recurring events. Use "happens regularly" for present occurrences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had happened regularly" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, indicating that an action or event occurred repeatedly in the past before another event or time. Ludwig AI confirms this as correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had happened regularly" is a grammatically sound and usable expression in English, indicating that an event or action occurred repeatedly in the past before a specific time or event. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and practical usage.

While not exceedingly common, the phrase finds its place in diverse contexts, primarily within news, media, and scientific writing. To improve your writing, use "had happened regularly" to clearly specify past repeated events and avoid using it for present occurrences. Alternatives such as "occurred frequently" or "happened repeatedly" can provide similar meaning with subtle nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

happened repeatedly

Highlights the repetitive nature of the event.

occurred frequently

Focuses on the frequency of the occurrence, using a more formal tone.

routinely happened

Highlights that the action was performed as a routine.

was a regular event

Indicates that the event was part of a routine.

occurred on a regular basis

Similar to "was a regular event" but with a slightly more formal tone.

took place often

Emphasizes the action of something taking place repeatedly.

was a common occurrence

Shifts the focus to the event being a typical or expected event.

was commonplace

Suggests that the event was ordinary and unremarkable.

was the norm

Implies that the event was the standard or expected behavior.

customarily transpired

Uses a more formal and less common word, "transpired", to denote the event.

FAQs

How can I use "had happened regularly" in a sentence?

Use "had happened regularly" to describe past, recurring events that occurred before a specific time. For instance: "Before the security upgrade, breaches "had happened regularly"".

What are some alternatives to "had happened regularly"?

Alternatives include "occurred frequently", "happened repeatedly", or "was a common occurrence". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "has happened regularly" instead of "had happened regularly"?

No, "has happened regularly" refers to events that occur regularly up to the present. "Had happened regularly" refers to events that occurred regularly in the past before another past event or time.

What is the difference between "happens regularly" and "had happened regularly"?

"Happens regularly" describes events that occur in the present or are generally true, while "had happened regularly" describes events that occurred repeatedly in the past before a specific point in time.