had only just closed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had only just closed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was recently completed or finished, often in a narrative context. Example: "The door had only just closed when I heard the loud crash behind me."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

But a spokesman for the Department for the Environment stressed a consultation on the policy had only just closed and that any proposals to build on land covered by such woodland would still have to go through a "vigorous planning process".

BBC

The date for announcing the winner overran and on the date of the expected announcement instead it was announced that they were going to "rethink their decision" (inferring that indeed a decision had been made) and add the Holyrood Brewery site into the running (which had only just closed).

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

All around Greenland there is unfrozen water; though it's early December the North West passage has only just closed.

The Guardian - Books

Although the fund has only just closed, Yepez, Cunningham, and Dixon have already made five investments.

TechCrunch

The polls had just closed.

The Guardian - Business

The polls in the cities had just closed.

The New Yorker

RAF Binbrook after it had just closed.

BBC

Castellana, the only real cigar shop I could find in Florence, had just closed for its final evening before Christmas.

Forbes

Berghain had just closed.

Vice

In Russia, where the control freak Vladimir Putin has just closed down the only independent television station that dared criticize him, the U.S. was warned a year ago that the expansion of NATO to its borders would be regarded as a hostile development.

The New York Times

The polls have just closed.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had only just closed" to create a sense of immediacy or to emphasize the recency of an event's conclusion, often setting the stage for subsequent actions or consequences. For example, "The meeting had only just closed when the fire alarm rang."

Common error

Avoid using "had only just closed" in sentences where a simpler past tense would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound overly complex or unnatural. Choose simplicity when appropriate. "The store closed" might be better than "The store had only just closed" if the timing isn't crucial.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had only just closed" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying the timing of a past event in relation to another past event. According to Ludwig and the provided examples, it indicates that the closing occurred very recently before another action or state.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

33%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had only just closed" is a grammatically sound and usable adverbial phrase that emphasizes the recency of a completed action. According to Ludwig, it is a valid English phrase. While relatively uncommon, it effectively conveys immediacy and is appropriate for neutral to professional contexts, particularly in news and media. When writing, be mindful not to overuse the phrase and consider whether a simpler past tense might be more appropriate. Remember to choose alternatives like "had recently closed" for greater formality or for nuanced meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had barely closed

Emphasizes the very short time since the closing, implying it was almost simultaneous.

had recently closed

Highlights the recency of the closing, focusing on the time aspect.

had just finished closing

Emphasizes the completion of the closing process.

had scarcely closed

Similar to 'barely closed', indicating minimal time elapsed since closing.

had not long closed

Indicates that the closing happened in the recent past.

had closed just now

Directly states that the closing occurred in the immediate past.

had closed moments ago

Emphasizes that the closing was very recent, measured in moments.

had only recently been closed

Passive voice emphasizing the state of being closed and its recency.

was newly closed

Simple expression indicating the newness of the closed state.

had been closed a short while ago

More descriptive, specifying a brief period since the closing.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "had only just closed" to sound more formal?

In more formal contexts, consider alternatives such as "had recently concluded", "had only recently ceased operations", or "had been closed in the immediate past". These options provide a similar meaning while maintaining a higher level of formality.

What's the difference between "had only just closed" and "had just closed"?

While both phrases indicate that something closed recently, "had only just closed" often implies a greater sense of immediacy or surprise. "Had just closed" is a more general statement about the recency of the closing, whereas "had only just closed" emphasizes how recent it was. For example, "The polls "had just closed"" versus "The polls had only just closed when the results started coming in."

Is "had only just closed" grammatically correct?

Yes, "had only just closed" is grammatically correct. It uses the past perfect tense to indicate an action that was completed very recently before another point in time. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is grammatically sound.

When is it appropriate to use "had only just closed" in writing?

Use "had only just closed" when you want to emphasize the recency of an event and its immediate impact on subsequent events or circumstances. This phrase works well in narratives where timing is important, as exemplified by the sentence: "The consultation on the policy "had only just closed" and proposals would still need a vigorous planning process."