had only concluded

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had only concluded" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was recently finished or decided, often in a context where the timing is relevant to the discussion. Example: "After a long debate, we had only concluded our meeting just before the storm hit."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

However, Mr Brown had not been told that an earlier version of the peer's legal opinion had only concluded that a case "could be made" that the invasion was within the law.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Efforts have been made along this line but have only concluded that institutions spread through organizational networks.

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

The Balkan Wars had only just concluded and Serbia was still recovering.

Wikipedia

France had only recently concluded negotiations for recognition of Gen. Kassem.

The New York Times

Macworld Expo has only just concluded, but rumors are already swirling about new Apple products and the company's next move.

Forbes

(An interesting coincidence that the all-women Julius Caesar has only just concluded its St. Ann's Warehouse run).

Huffington Post

Furthermore, the PedsQL™ 3.0 Cancer Module' is currently undergoing validation processes in a number of countries, which have only been concluded in Germany thus far [ 33].

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

After analyzing the image, an international team of astronomers at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics has not only concluded that the center of the galaxy is a dramatic place, but that Sagittarius A*  may be partly to blame for the tumult. .

Huffington Post

Utilizing a combined approach and analyzing biological and biochemical aspects of transmission, we have not only concluded that UK-1 and UK-2 are scrapie, but we are able to hypothesize that each isolate comprised two strains that most likely coexisted in the natural host based on the wild-type and particularly the transgenic mouse data.

Brain Pathology

Officers who were involved said the man was holding a gun, but a department review concluded he had only a radio with him.

The New York Times

Anelka, 33, passed a series of medical tests in Turin last week but the deal - which includes an option for a further year - has only now been concluded.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had only concluded" when you want to emphasize the recentness of a conclusion or decision, particularly in relation to subsequent events. It helps to create a sense of timing and consequence.

Common error

Avoid using "only" excessively in your writing. While "had only concluded" is grammatically sound, too many instances of "only" can make your writing sound repetitive and restrictive. Vary your language for a smoother flow.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had only concluded" functions as part of the past perfect tense, indicating an action that was completed before another action in the past. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. For example, "The Balkan Wars had only just concluded..."

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had only concluded" is a grammatically sound construction used to emphasize the recency of a completed action or decision relative to another event. As Ludwig confirms, it's perfectly acceptable in written English and is used across various contexts, particularly in news, science, and wiki sources. While it may lean towards formality, it remains versatile enough for neutral writing. When using this phrase, be mindful of overusing "only" in your writing and explore alternatives like "had just finished" or "had recently completed" to add variety to your language. Use "had only concluded" to clearly link the timing of a finished action with its subsequent consequences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had just finished

Emphasizes the recent completion of an action; uses "just" for immediacy.

had recently completed

Highlights the recent completion with more formal language.

had barely finished

Stresses that the action concluded very shortly before another event.

had scarcely completed

Similar to "barely finished", but more formal.

had simply finalized

Focuses on the act of finalization without emphasizing time.

had merely decided

Highlights that a decision was recently made, possibly implying it was a basic or simple decision.

had only just wrapped up

Uses a more informal and colloquial expression for finishing something.

had shortly determined

Focuses on the determination or conclusion reached close to the present moment.

had definitively resolved

Emphasizes a firm resolution that has recently been reached.

had ultimately ascertained

Highlights the result of an investigation that has recently been determined.

FAQs

How can I use "had only concluded" in a sentence?

Use "had only concluded" to indicate that an action or process recently finished, often implying a connection to a following event. For example: "After a long debate, they "had only concluded" the meeting when the news broke".

What are some alternatives to "had only concluded"?

You can use alternatives such as "had just finished", "had recently completed", or "had barely finished" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "had only concluded" formal or informal?

"Had only concluded" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. It is suitable for both news articles and academic papers. More informal alternatives might include "had just wrapped up".

What is the difference between "had concluded" and "had only concluded"?

"Had concluded" simply indicates that something was finished, while ""had only concluded"" emphasizes the recent completion of the action, suggesting that it finished very shortly before another event or consideration.