had not acknowledged

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had not acknowledged" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone failed to recognize or accept something in the past. Example: "Despite the evidence presented, she had not acknowledged the mistakes made during the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

Rickey had not acknowledged being pressured by The Daily Worker.

The New York Times

As of late Wednesday, The A.P. had not acknowledged that it had misreported the information.

The New York Times

Clemens had not acknowledged the crowd as he left the field, and Zimmer urged him to take the curtain call.

The New York Times - Sports

He explained that Ali knew that he had lost his arms, but that he had not acknowledged it yet: "He is conscious.

The New Yorker

It is possible that "I Know A Place" and "My Love" were joint compositions, as an embittered Trent later claimed that Hatch had not acknowledged her contribution.

Independent

Brock Yates, an automotive journalist and Cannonball Run organizer, said he had not acknowledged any transcontinental records since the last Cannonball Run in 1979.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

In any event, he immediately saw ethical implications that I hadn't acknowledged.

The New York Times

She hadn't acknowledged his offering and now that he was dead it still affected her so little.

The Guardian - Film

Over the next week, he relived his experience in a raw way, describing fear he hadn't acknowledged.

Los Angeles Times

Consciously, I hadn't acknowledged to myself that I wanted to end what I now know was an abusive relationship.

Vice

The United Nations has not acknowledged its culpability.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had not acknowledged", ensure the context clearly indicates what was not recognized or admitted. This helps avoid ambiguity and strengthens the clarity of your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "had not acknowledged" when a simple lack of awareness is intended. The phrase implies a conscious refusal to recognize or accept something, not merely a lack of information.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had not acknowledged" functions as a verb phrase, specifically in the past perfect tense, indicating a state of non-acknowledgment that occurred before a specific point in the past. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its use in various contexts to express a failure to recognize, admit, or accept something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

20%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had not acknowledged" is a versatile and grammatically sound verb phrase used to indicate a failure to recognize or admit something that occurred before a specific point in the past. As confirmed by Ludwig, it’s considered correct and is "Very common" across diverse contexts, particularly in "News & Media". When using it, clarity is crucial to avoid ambiguity. While it is suitable for various registers, ranging from neutral to professional, it’s important to ensure the phrase accurately reflects a deliberate choice not to acknowledge, rather than a simple lack of awareness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had not recognized

Replaces "acknowledged" with "recognized", focusing on a lack of recognition.

had failed to recognize

Uses "failed to recognize" to convey a lack of acknowledgment or awareness.

had not admitted

Substitutes "acknowledged" with "admitted", highlighting a refusal to confess or concede.

had not confessed

Similar to "had not admitted", this emphasizes a failure to confess something.

had not conceded

Replaces "acknowledged" with "conceded", suggesting a failure to yield or agree.

had not recognized the importance of

Adds "the importance of" to specify what was not acknowledged, increasing specificity.

had not taken notice of

Emphasizes a failure to observe or pay attention to something.

remained oblivious to

Indicates a lack of awareness or understanding.

had not appreciated

Focuses on a lack of appreciation or understanding of the significance.

had not addressed

Shifts the focus to a failure to address or deal with a particular issue.

FAQs

How to use "had not acknowledged" in a sentence?

Use "had not acknowledged" to indicate that someone did not recognize or accept something in the past. For example, "Despite the overwhelming evidence, the company "had not acknowledged" its role in the environmental damage."

What can I say instead of "had not acknowledged"?

You can use alternatives like "had not recognized", "had not admitted", or "had failed to recognize" depending on the specific context.

What is the difference between "had not acknowledged" and "had not recognized"?

"Had not acknowledged" often implies a deliberate choice not to accept or admit something, while "had not recognized" suggests a lack of awareness or understanding. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize a conscious decision or a lack of perception.

Is "had not acknowledged" formal or informal?

"Had not acknowledged" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and the overall tone of the writing.