had not started

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had not started" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that an action or event did not begin at a specific point in the past. Example: "By the time the meeting began, the project had not started yet."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Chandler and Martin had not started together.

The New York Times - Sports

The voyage had not started well.

The New York Times - Sports

The field trip had not started spectacularly.

The New York Times - Arts

It had not started an investigation.

The Guardian

The herring season had not started.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The day had not started so badly for the government.

Independent

More than a decade later, construction still had not started.

The New Yorker

Desai admitted she had not started a third novel yet.

Independent

He had not started a game since 1998.

The New York Times - Sports

His office said it had not started assessing penalties.

The New York Times

He had not started in the league all season, just as he had not started much last season.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had not started" to emphasize that an action, event, or process was pending or uninitiated at a specific point in the past. This highlights a state of inactivity or delay.

Common error

Avoid using "had not started" when the context requires a different tense. For instance, do not use it if the action is ongoing or has just concluded; instead, use a present or future perfect tense.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had not started" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect tense, indicating that an action or event did not begin before a specific point in the past. Ludwig provides numerous examples where the phrase is used to express a state of non-commencement.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

17%

Sports

15%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had not started" is a grammatically correct and frequently used verb phrase indicating that something did not begin before a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its usability across diverse contexts, particularly in news, science, and sports. While alternatives like "had not begun" or "had yet to begin" exist, "had not started" remains a versatile and clear choice for conveying the absence of initiation. As Ludwig AI accurately points out, its prevalence and grammatical soundness reinforce its value in effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had not begun

Replaces "started" with "begun", a synonym with a slightly more formal tone.

had yet to begin

Uses "yet to begin" to convey that something was still pending or waiting to start.

had not commenced

Substitutes "started" with "commenced", adding a more formal and official feel.

had not initiated

Replaces "started" with "initiated", emphasizing the act of beginning or setting something in motion.

was not underway

Indicates that something had not yet progressed to a stage of being in progress.

was not initiated

Uses passive voice and replaces "started" with "initiated" to emphasize that the act of beginning did not happen.

hadn't been started

Uses a contraction and passive voice, implying that something was not set into motion by someone or something.

had failed to start

Emphasizes the lack of initiation or beginning.

had seen no start

More emphatic and less common, highlighting that something definitively did not begin.

remained unstarted

Adjective form expressing that something was in a state of not having been started.

FAQs

How can I use "had not started" in a sentence?

Use "had not started" to indicate that an action or event did not begin before a specific point in the past. For example, "The movie "had not started" when we arrived at the theater."

What are some alternatives to "had not started"?

You can use alternatives like "had not begun", "had not commenced", or "had yet to begin" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "hadn't started" instead of "had not started"?

Yes, "hadn't started" is a contraction of "had not started" and is perfectly acceptable in informal contexts. Both phrases convey the same meaning.

What is the difference between "had not started" and "has not started"?

"Had not started" refers to a point in the past, while "has not started" refers to the present. For instance, "The project "had not started" by last week" versus "The project "has not started" yet".