had made a commitment to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had made a commitment to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a promise or obligation that someone has undertaken in the past. Example: "She had made a commitment to volunteer at the local shelter every weekend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

When I took the commissioning oath as a Navy Chaplain Corps officer I began to realize that I had made a commitment to care for the religious needs of all those committed to my care, not just the Christians.

Huffington Post

He added that it had made a commitment to grow through the development of new drugs.

The New York Times

"Anyone who agreed to be in the program had made a commitment to me," he said.

The New York Times

He said Royal Caribbean had made a commitment to Bayonne of only one year.

The New York Times

The network, though, said that Gruden had "made a commitment to remain with ESPN".

The New York Times

Many Democrats opposed the conditions, arguing that the United States had made a commitment to pay the back dues.

The New York Times

Weeden had made a commitment to attend Oklahoma State, but he told a pool reporter: "I'm signing.

The New York Times - Sports

We had made a commitment to our bosses, but Khalid's death made clear that our loyalties had expanded.

The New York Times

On Friday, Woodson said the team had made a commitment to Chris Smith, who was in training camp with the Knicks last season before injuring his left knee.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Christie also emphasized that he had made a commitment to New Jersey and still had a lot of hard work to do to fix the state's problems.

The New York Times

Bush left their one-on-one meeting with the belief that Shamir had made a commitment to either halt or slow down the settlement process.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had made a commitment to" when emphasizing a past decision to dedicate oneself to a person, cause, or activity. This phrasing highlights the deliberate nature of the commitment.

Common error

Avoid shifting to the present tense when describing the commitment. Maintain the past perfect tense ("had made") to clearly indicate that the commitment was established in the past: "She "had made a commitment to" finish the project, and she worked hard to achieve that goal."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had made a commitment to" functions as a verb phrase indicating a past action with ongoing implications. It expresses a prior decision to dedicate oneself to something. Ludwig shows examples ranging from personal promises to formal agreements.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

17%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had made a commitment to" is a versatile expression used to convey a past decision to dedicate oneself to something, as confirmed by Ludwig. It’s grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, including news, business, and general communication. While alternatives like "had pledged to" or "had promised to" exist, "had made a commitment to" offers a balance of formality and clarity. Remember to maintain tense consistency and emphasize the deliberate nature of the commitment for effective writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had pledged to

Replaces "commitment" with "pledge", emphasizing a formal promise.

had promised to

Substitutes "commitment" with "promise", highlighting a verbal assurance.

had undertaken to

Replaces "made a commitment" with "undertaken", suggesting a formal acceptance of responsibility.

had dedicated themselves to

Emphasizes dedication and effort towards a specific goal.

had bound themselves to

Suggests a strong, often legal or moral, obligation.

had devoted themselves to

Highlights the act of dedicating time and resources.

had obligated themselves to

Focuses on the creation of a formal or moral obligation.

had resolved to

Indicates a firm decision and commitment to a course of action.

were duty-bound to

Stresses a sense of obligation or responsibility.

had given their word to

Highlights the personal promise made.

FAQs

How can I use "had made a commitment to" in a sentence?

Use "had made a commitment to" when you want to emphasize that someone decided in the past to dedicate themselves to something, for example: "The company "had made a commitment to" sustainable practices years ago".

What phrases are similar to "had made a commitment to"?

Alternatives include "had pledged to", "had promised to", or "had undertaken to". The best option depends on the specific context and nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "made a commitment to" or "had made a commitment to"?

"Had made a commitment to" is used to emphasize that the commitment was made at a specific point in the past and is relevant to a subsequent event or situation. "Made a commitment to" can be used when the specific timing is less important.

Can "had made a commitment to" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "had made a commitment to" is suitable for formal writing. It clearly and professionally conveys the idea of a past commitment. Consider alternatives like "had undertaken to" for especially formal contexts.