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Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
had initially submitted
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "had initially submitted" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that was submitted at an earlier time, often in the context of a process or application. Example: "The committee reviewed the documents that had initially submitted for approval before making their final decision."
✓ Grammatically correct
News & Media
Science
Academia
Alternative expressions(3)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
1 human-written examples
Mr. Tomanovic said he had initially submitted a list of 1,400 witnesses to the court.
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
59 human-written examples
Having initially submitted documents, they were requested to send "further documentation" by Monday.
News & Media
They had initially been submitted to the court not as a printout but as an Excel file that any user could alter.
News & Media
In 104 cases (84.5%) the patients had been initially submitted to a non-diagnostic FB with accessory sample techniques and in 19 (15.5%) to a CT-guided TTNA.
Science
The traffic safety agency had initially proposed requiring automakers to submit V.I.N.'s directly to it and to update recall information daily.
News & Media
Magistrate Francis had initially ordered that Mr. Giuliani submit to a deposition last February after the plaintiff's lawyers said that they had interviewed 16 witnesses but could not identify who had made the demolition decision.
News & Media
Instead of a "fake Webbys submission," as Beard had initially suggested, the creatives decided to submit the case study for real.
News & Media
Senate Democrats had initially included the $80 million for closing the prison in their version of the war-spending measure, but with tight restrictions requiring Mr. Obama to submit a plan before the money could be used.
News & Media
This had initially puzzled me.
News & Media
The ministry had initially declined to comment.
News & Media
Both authors analysed and interpreted the results, and have given final approval of the version to be initially submitted.
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When using "had initially submitted", ensure that you clarify if and how the submission was subsequently changed or updated. This provides a clearer picture of the sequence of events.
Common error
Avoid using "had initially submitted" without mentioning what happened after the initial submission. Leaving out this information can create ambiguity and leave the reader wondering about the final outcome.
Source & Trust
84%
Authority and reliability
4.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "had initially submitted" functions as part of a verb phrase in the past perfect tense. It indicates an action of submitting something that occurred before another point in the past. As Ludwig suggests, it is used to describe a first step in a process.
Frequent in
News & Media
35%
Science
33%
Academia
10%
Less common in
Formal & Business
9%
Encyclopedias
6%
Wiki
1%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
The phrase "had initially submitted" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe a submission that occurred before another point in the past. As Ludwig confirms, its function is to indicate an initial action in a sequence, often implying subsequent changes or updates. Usage is frequent across various contexts, including news, science, and academia, with a slightly more formal register. When employing this phrase, ensure you clarify subsequent actions to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "originally submitted" or "first submitted" can be used depending on the desired emphasis.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
originally submitted
Focuses on the point that it was the first submission.
first submitted
Emphasizes the temporal aspect of the submission being the first.
initially filed
Replaces "submitted" with "filed", often used in legal or formal contexts.
had started by submitting
Highlights the action of starting the process with a submission.
had at first submitted
Adds emphasis on the initial action using "at first".
previously submitted
Indicates a submission occurred at an earlier, unspecified time.
had tendered initially
Uses "tendered" as a formal alternative to "submitted".
once submitted
Implies the action of submission happened in the past.
had provisionally submitted
Suggests the submission was temporary or subject to change.
had entered initially
Uses 'entered' to express submitting data or a form initially.
FAQs
What does "had initially submitted" mean?
It means that something was submitted at an earlier point in time, often implying that further actions or changes followed the initial submission. The use of "had" indicates that the submission occurred in the past relative to another past action.
How can I use "had initially submitted" in a sentence?
You can use it to describe a first step in a process, such as, "The team "had initially submitted" a draft proposal, which was later revised based on feedback."
What are some alternatives to "had initially submitted"?
Alternatives include "originally submitted", "first submitted", or "previously submitted", depending on the specific context and emphasis you want to convey.
Is it redundant to say "had initially submitted"?
While "initially" and "had" both indicate a past action, they serve different purposes. "Had" establishes the past perfect tense, while "initially" emphasizes that it was the first action in a sequence. The phrase is not necessarily redundant and can provide clarity.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
84%
Authority and reliability
4.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested