had originally started

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had originally started" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate the initial point in time when something began, often in a narrative or explanatory context. Example: "The project had originally started as a small initiative before it grew into a large-scale operation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

He had originally started reprinting the negatives in the darkroom, but he later settled on scanning them, doing minimal corrections.

The New York Times

The police officer who had originally started the shooting was later captured in another nearby district, according to the police and provincial officials.

The New York Times

The firm was founded by Bevil Mabey who had originally started by buying up spare Bailey bridges from the army after the second world war.

The Guardian - Business

It had originally started in Hong Kong; the title is an ironic paraphrase of Chairman Mao saying "let a hundred flowers bloom", which was his incitement to revolution.

The Guardian

The record had originally started out as a project just for Bob, but grew to include many stars including Sheryl Crow and Alan Jackson - and will be released on October 4 via Egyptian Records, complete with sleeve notes explaining how the notebooks were discovered and why the album was created.

Independent

Lambda Labs had originally started making a facial recognition-based contact book called HeadsUp, which used several different computer vision and facial recognition algorithms they had in development.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

The club has what Allofs refers to as "a unique ownership situation" under Volkswagen, having originally started as a works team for this town built for factory workers and thus being excepted from the 50+1 model.

The Guardian - Sport

Back then, Dambuster Studios was called Crytek UK – having originally started out as Free Radical Design, which developed the popular TimeSplitters games, and was founded by members of the legendary Rare Software team behind GoldenEye.

The Guardian - Tech

Apple has indirectly credited expansions like this as part of what is fuelling its growth in its apps business today — which may have originally started out as a way of bringing more attractive services to its devices to fuel handset purchases but has developed into a business line in its own right.

TechCrunch

Which is why this Father's Day, I'll be celebrating all dads — but cheering a little bit harder for the stepfathers who have stepped up to be a dad to kids who may not have originally started out as theirs.

Huffington Post

While the experiment had originally been started as a vaccine safety trial (the dams had been vaccinated three times during pregnancy), it was decided to extend the trial in order to examine whether FMD vaccination of young calves makes sense in general and in particular, whether an intratypic heterologous vaccine could induce an antibody response in the presence of maternal antibodies.

BMC Veterinary Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had originally started" to clearly indicate that something's initial state or purpose has changed or evolved over time. This helps to provide context and show progression.

Common error

Be mindful not to use "had originally started" when "originally started" suffices. The past perfect tense is only necessary if you are referring to a point in time before another point in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had originally started" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect tense. It's used to describe an action or state that began in the past and was completed before another action or point in time, indicating a change or evolution from the initial beginning. Ludwig confirms its proper usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Wiki

20%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

4%

Social Media

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had originally started" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, as confirmed by Ludwig, serving to set a scene by referencing a commencement point in the past before something changed. Predominantly used in contexts such as News & Media, Wiki, and Science, it helps to provide critical background information, detailing how an initial state has evolved. Writers should ensure they are using the phrase to accurately reflect a sequence of past events, where the "starting" occurred before another point in time. Consider alternatives like "had initially begun" for variety and avoid redundancy by dropping "had" if there isn't another past event to reference. The phrase's neutral tone makes it appropriate for various registers, although it leans toward more formal and informational settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had initially begun

Replaces "originally started" with "initially begun", emphasizing the commencement but using different synonyms.

had commenced initially

Changes the order of words and uses "commenced" instead of "started", altering the emphasis slightly.

had started out

Uses a phrasal verb, focusing on the initial phase or state of something.

was initially launched

Shifts the focus to launching or introducing something at the beginning.

had first begun

Emphasizes the priority or sequence of the beginning.

had been initiated first

Uses a passive voice and emphasizes the process of initiation.

had been primarily established

Focuses on the act of establishing or founding something at the outset.

had been initially conceived

Highlights the initial idea or conception of something.

had taken its first steps

Employs a metaphorical expression to denote the commencement.

had its genesis

Uses a more formal and literary term to indicate the origin or beginning.

FAQs

How can I use "had originally started" in a sentence?

Use "had originally started" to show that something began in one way but later changed. For example, "The company "had originally started" as a small family business, but it grew into a large corporation".

What are some alternatives to "had originally started"?

Alternatives include "had initially begun", "had first started", or "had commenced initially". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "originally had started" instead of "had originally started"?

While "originally had started" might be understood, ""had originally started"" is the more standard and grammatically correct phrasing. It follows the typical structure of the past perfect tense with the adverb placed appropriately.

What is the difference between "had originally started" and "originally started"?

"Had originally started" places the event further in the past, indicating it happened before another past event. "Originally started" simply states when something began. For example, "By the time they rebranded, the project "had originally started" with different goals" versus "The project "had originally started" in 2010".