had just set

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had just set" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that an action was completed very recently before another action or event occurred. Example: "She had just set the table when the guests arrived."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The sun had just set in France.

The New Yorker

I sure wanted to shoot the bastard that had just set the I.E.D. off.

The New Yorker

I noticed in the GP surgery that an osteopath had just set himself up there.

The Guardian

At the time, Ferguson had just set up his own architectural practice and had a young family.

Independent

Alonso had just set the fastest lap, and then he passed Hülkenberg to take second place on Lap 26.

The New York Times - Sports

Asked about his own party's policy on internships, Clegg said he had just set out a new set of rules.

The Guardian

Together, Gilliam and Radclyffe approached Pathé Films, who had just set up offices in London, and Canal Plus in Paris.

The Guardian - Film

Under pressure from South Africa, which had just set up apartheid, Britain exiled Seretse from its protectorate.

The Guardian - Film

Instead, she was talking about the trio of olive oils she had just set down, along with some rosemary bread, to welcome us.

The New York Times

He shared a victory lap this weekend with Edward Cheserek, another immigrant from Kenya who had just set the American high-school record in the two-mile.

The New Yorker

"It's time to cull the flock!" he announced loudly, turning his glare on one particularly lean, rust-colored malefactor who had just set upon an unsuspecting hen.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had just set" to clearly indicate that an action was completed in the very recent past, creating a sense of immediacy or direct consequence.

Common error

Avoid using "had just set" when you intend to describe an action that will be completed in the future. "Will have just set" is more appropriate for future perfect tense.

Linguistic Context

"Had just set" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect tense. It describes an action that was completed immediately before another action or point in time in the past. According to Ludwig AI, this is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had just set" is a versatile phrase used to describe actions completed immediately before another event in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It's most frequently found in News & Media, Academia, and Formal & Business contexts. When writing, ensure the tense aligns with your intended meaning and purpose, and consider context-appropriate alternatives for formal or specialized writing. The phrase is generally suitable for varied contexts, making it a useful tool for clear and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had only just set

Adds emphasis to the immediacy of the action.

had barely set

Suggests the action was completed moments before something else happened.

had recently established

Emphasizes the recent nature of establishing something, similar to setting it up.

had newly set

Highlights the newness of the setup or arrangement.

had finished setting

Focuses on the completion of the action of setting something.

had scarcely set

Suggests the action was completed with little time to spare before another event.

had configured just now

Uses the word "configure" and "just now" to highlight the recent event.

had immediately set

Implies that the action was performed without delay.

had initiated only moments ago

Suggests the action was started recently.

had promptly set

Indicates that the setting was done quickly and efficiently.

FAQs

How can I use "had just set" in a sentence?

Use "had just set" to show that an action was completed very recently before another event occurred. For example: "She "had just set" the table when the guests arrived".

What phrases are similar to "had just set"?

Alternatives include "had recently established", "had only just set", or "had newly set", each offering slightly different nuances.

Is "had just set" formal or informal?

The phrase ""had just set"" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, depending on the overall tone and vocabulary used in the writing.

When should I avoid using "had just set"?

Avoid using ""had just set"" if the action occurred a while ago. Consider using past perfect simple or past simple for actions completed further in the past.