had once communicated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had once communicated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a past action of communication that occurred at some point before another past event. Example: "She realized that they had once communicated about their shared interests in art."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Once again this situation could have been avoided by interested parties within Guernsey football choosing to communicate and work together which, alas, has once again not happened.

BBC

Mr. Daniloff thought the incident had ended there until his arrest on Aug. 30, when he was informed by a K.G.B. interrogator that there was evidence the embassy had twice communicated with Father Roman, once by letter, once by phone, both times indirectly mentioning Mr. Daniloff.

The New York Times

Where island residents once had to communicate with crude radiophones, wireless technology now enables them to talk and work as well as if they never left the office.

Forbes

Once expectations have been communicated, show new employees the fun and exciting parts of your business.

Forbes

Once he has communicated the play call, Manning focuses on the blockers, pointing out linebackers or defensive backs who may be stepping into gaps and need coverage.

The New York Times - Sports

Once you have communicated effectively what it is you want doing, it is good practice to make progress checks – that way any potential misunderstandings get ironed out before the deadline looms.

The Guardian - Money

Once you have communicated what areas you can adapt to and what's "non-negotiable," you can work to find a mutually-beneficial compromise.

Huffington Post

Helwick concluded that Hinton had made an "unwanted sexual advance" and noted that Karnes "had to communicate with Hinton more than once to terminate their friendship".

The Guardian

Once a submissive has communicated, their play can go on, and it further establishes tenderness, intimacy and the experience of being cared for.

Huffington Post

Once your child has communicated the reason for his discomfort to you, try as much as possible to make required amends.

WikiHow

The CEO thinks because it's been said once or twice that the message has been communicated.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had once communicated" to clearly establish that a communication event occurred at some point prior to another event discussed in the past.

Common error

Avoid using "had once communicated" when referring to ongoing or habitual communication. This phrase refers to a single, completed action in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had once communicated" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect tense, indicating an action of communication that was completed at some point before another point in the past. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically sound and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

25%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

8%

Encyclopedias

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had once communicated" is a grammatically correct past perfect tense construction used to describe a single instance of communication that occurred before another point in the past. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is indeed correct.

While it might be less common than simpler alternatives like "had communicated", it provides a specific nuance related to the single occurrence. Its usage spans different contexts, with a slight lean towards news media. When using the phrase, make sure you are referring to a completed action and not an ongoing process. Also, remember that alternatives like "had communicated previously" or "once communicated" can often serve the same purpose with slightly different emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had communicated previously

Emphasizes that the communication occurred before a specific point in time.

had formerly communicated

Highlights that the communication took place at an earlier time, implying a change in the current situation.

had at one time communicated

Indicates that the communication happened at a specific point in the past.

had communicated in the past

Simply states that communication occurred at some point before the present.

once communicated

A more concise way of saying the same thing, omitting "had" for brevity.

did communicate once

Emphasizes the fact that communication did occur.

had corresponded previously

Suggests a formal exchange of letters or messages in the past.

had been in touch once

Indicates a brief period of contact.

had contacted previously

Highlights the action of reaching out to someone.

had dialogued at some point

Implies a more in-depth conversation occurred in the past.

FAQs

How do I use "had once communicated" in a sentence?

Use "had once communicated" to indicate a single instance of past communication before another event in the past. For example, "She realized that they "had once communicated" about their shared interests in art before the conflict arose".

What are some alternatives to "had once communicated"?

You can use alternatives like "had communicated previously", "had formerly communicated", or "once communicated" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "had once communicated" or "have once communicated"?

"Had once communicated" is correct when referring to a past action completed before another point in the past. "Have once communicated" would imply a connection to the present, which is less common and may sound awkward.

What's the difference between "had once communicated" and "had communicated"?

"Had once communicated" emphasizes that the communication happened on a single occasion. "Had communicated" is more general and doesn't specify the number of times communication occurred.