had planned to do

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had planned to do" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to indicate a past intention or arrangement that was made before another past event. Example: She had planned to do her homework before going out with friends. Alternative expressions include "intended to" and "meant to."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

They did what they had planned to do".

The New Yorker

"They had planned to do it earlier, but failed".

The New York Times

"I had planned to do my PhD, but this opportunity came along," he says.

The Economist

Some institutions thought the strongest response was to do exactly what they had planned to do.

The New York Times - Arts

(Mr. Liu returned on a commercial flight, which he had planned to do all along).

The New York Times

Comedy was not what Schaal had planned to do with her life.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

I'm fairly sure if he had planned to do that, he would have told me".

The Guardian

In exchange, the town would not execute Dutch, as it had planned to do yesterday.

The New York Times

It won't be the show I had planned to do at Morrissey but it could be a real nice evening".

The Guardian - Music

Ms. Brinckerhoff had planned to do an exhibition on the textiles of all the Americas: North, Central and South.

The New York Times

"I had planned to do this after things got to a certain point, which was the Skilling case," she said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had planned to do" to clearly indicate a past intention, especially when contrasting it with what actually happened. This helps establish a sequence of events and expectations.

Common error

Avoid using "had planned to do" when referring to current or future plans. This phrase is specific to past intentions. For current plans, use "plan to do" or "are planning to do".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had planned to do" functions as a past perfect construction expressing a prior intention or arrangement. Ludwig shows that the phrase typically sets the stage for describing an event that either occurred differently or did not occur at all, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had planned to do" is a very common and grammatically sound phrase used to express a past intention or arrangement. As Ludwig AI confirms, its use is appropriate across various registers, though most frequently encountered in news and media contexts. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects a past perfect action, differentiating it from present or future plans. Alternatives like "intended to do" or "was going to do" can offer subtle variations in formality or emphasis. Understanding these nuances will allow for precise and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intended to do

Replaces "planned" with "intended", offering a slightly more formal alternative with similar meaning.

meant to do

Substitutes "planned" with "meant", indicating a prior intention or purpose.

was going to do

Uses a more informal structure to express a prior intention.

had intended on doing

Adds "on doing" to emphasize the intention, slightly more emphatic.

had set out to do

Indicates an initial attempt or embarking on a task that was planned.

had aimed to do

Replaces "planned" with "aimed", suggesting a goal-oriented intention.

had arranged to do

Highlights the preparatory steps taken to carry out the action.

had prepared to do

Focuses on the preparation aspect of the planned action.

had scheduled to do

Indicates a formal arrangement with a specific time frame.

had envisioned doing

Replaces "planned" with "envisioned", adding the nuance of imagining or foreseeing the action.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "had planned to do" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using "intended to do" or "had intended on doing". These options add a slightly more sophisticated feel to your writing.

Is it always necessary to use "had" with "planned to do"?

Yes, "had planned to do" is in the past perfect tense, indicating that the planning occurred before another past action or time. Using "planned to do" without "had" changes the meaning and tense.

What's the difference between "was going to do" and "had planned to do"?

"Was going to do" is generally more informal and can imply a less firm intention. "Had planned to do" suggests a more deliberate and organized intention that existed at some point in the past.

Can I use "had planned on doing" instead of "had planned to do"?

Yes, "had planned on doing" is grammatically correct. The choice between "had planned to do" and "had planned on doing" often depends on stylistic preference, though "had planned to do" is generally more common.