had initially received

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had initially received" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was received at an earlier time, often in the context of a sequence of events or actions. Example: "The package had initially received a tracking number before it was shipped out."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

The I.O.C. then retracted its earlier denial, saying that it had initially received incorrect information from the U.S.O.C.

The New Yorker

Boras said yesterday that Sheffield had initially received and acted on bad information in seeking a contract extension or a trade.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr Rice had initially received only a two-game suspension after being indicted in March for the assault (charges were suspended after he agreed to counselling).

The Economist

Chronically ill from liver disease, Mr. Espinosa Chepe had initially received government permission to visit Spain in 2010 for medical treatment, including a possible liver transplant.

The New York Times

Hoy had initially received 12 time penalties for crossing the starting line twice during the showjumping phase but that decision was overturned and Hoy, and Germany, went on to receive the individual and team titles.

The Guardian - Sport

The high percentage of restaurants earning the highest grade was evidence that restaurants that had initially received a B or a C had improved on follow-up inspections or had successfully appealed lower grades, said Dr. Thomas A. Farley, the city's health commissioner.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

Dr Julian Hunte, its president, appeared a happy man at Lord's in June and Donald Peters, the chief executive, will have initially received plenty of pats on his back.

Independent

The state and institution-building program, which has initially received some support in Israel because it was perceived as consistent with what was called "economic peace" has increasingly been viewed as a threat.

Huffington Post

The second part of this recommendation focusing on patients who have initially received a TNF inhibitor may seem somewhat redundant.

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases

When group allocation was unmasked at 24 weeks, all five crossover subjects were found to have initially received placebo injection.

British Journal of Sports Medicine

Some infants in the high flow group will have initially received a brief period of nasal continuous positive airway pressure prior to randomisation.

BMJ Open

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had initially received" to clearly indicate that an action of receiving occurred at a specific point in the past, and that this event is relevant to a later situation or development.

Common error

Avoid using "had initially received" when a simple past tense like "initially received" is sufficient and clearer. Overusing the past perfect can make your writing sound convoluted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had initially received" functions as a past perfect verb phrase. It indicates an action of receiving that was completed before another point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

62%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had initially received" is a grammatically sound past perfect verb phrase used to denote an action of receiving that occurred before another event in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is usable in written English and appropriate for establishing a sequence of events. While not extremely common, the phrase appears in both scientific and news contexts, maintaining a neutral to formal tone. To ensure clarity and conciseness, writers should avoid overusing the past perfect tense when a simple past tense would suffice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

first received

Highlights the chronological order of reception.

originally obtained

Emphasizes the act of getting something at the beginning.

had at first obtained

Stresses the initial acquisition.

initially granted

Focuses on permission or approval given at the start.

was originally awarded

Focuses on the initial awarding of something.

previously been given

Uses passive voice to stress the act of being given something before.

had been the initial recipient of

Highlights the role of being the first to receive something.

had formerly accepted

Implies acceptance of something previously.

started with the receipt of

Emphasizes the commencement with receiving something.

began by receiving

Highlights the beginning of a process or series of events with the act of receiving.

FAQs

How can I use "had initially received" in a sentence?

Use "had initially received" to describe something someone received at an earlier point in the past, before something else happened. For example, "The patient had initially received a placebo before being given the actual medication."

What's the difference between "had initially received" and "initially received"?

"Had initially received" indicates a past perfect tense, emphasizing that the receiving action occurred before another event in the past. "Initially received" is simple past tense, describing the act of receiving in the past without necessarily relating it to another past event.

What can I say instead of "had initially received"?

You can use alternatives like "originally obtained", "first received", or "initially granted" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "has initially received" instead of "had initially received"?

No, "has initially received" uses the present perfect tense, which doesn't fit the context of describing a completed action in the past that precedes another past action. "Had initially received" is the correct past perfect form.