had pointed that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had pointed that" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to indicate a past action but lacks clarity and completeness without additional context. Example: "She had pointed that out during the meeting."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

It was shocking, even as evidence had pointed that way.

The New York Times

Sheffield United 0 Derby County 2 The exhibits had pointed that way in any case, but by Saturday evening the evidence was conclusive.

Independent

Mr. Carlton was not an Anglican — he had pointed that out several times.

The New Yorker

O'Reilly had pointed that out a long, long time ago in David Walsh's book, L.A. Confidentiel".

The New York Times

Mr. Carlton was not an Anglican he had pointed that out several times.

The New Yorker

Drinks were found to have been left out of reach of patients, even after inspectors had pointed that out.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Precedent, if not written rules, has pointed that way.

The Guardian - Sport

"He must have pointed that guy out to me twenty times," Neal said.

The New Yorker

Others have pointed that out to me.

Harvard Business Review

Some authors have pointed that Z-riboside, derived from the accumulation of ZMP, could be the toxic metabolite in LND.

Medical Hypotheses

Our previous study has pointed that OXT in the caudate nucleus (CdN) plays a role in pain modulation.

Neuropeptides

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using a similar phrase, ensure that the sentence includes a clear subject performing the action of pointing or indicating. For example, 'The study had pointed out that...' is grammatically sound.

Common error

Avoid using "had pointed that" without an explicit object or subject performing the action. This often leads to unclear or grammatically incorrect sentences. Always specify what was pointed out or who pointed it out.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had pointed that" functions as part of a verb phrase, aiming to convey a past action of directing attention or indicating something. Ludwig AI indicates it is not correct in standard written English and requires completion for grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

41%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had pointed that" aims to indicate a prior mention or observation. However, Ludwig AI identifies the phrase as grammatically suspect in standard written English. While it appears in various sources like the New York Times and The Guardian, it often requires additional context or the inclusion of 'out' (e.g., "had pointed that out") to achieve grammatical correctness. Consider alternatives such as '"had mentioned that"' or '"had indicated that"' for clearer communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had indicated that

Replaces 'pointed' with 'indicated', softening the assertion to a mere suggestion or sign.

had noted that

Uses 'noted' instead of 'pointed', suggesting the observation was formally recorded or acknowledged.

had mentioned that

Substitutes 'pointed' with 'mentioned', implying a casual or brief reference.

had suggested that

Employs 'suggested' to convey a less direct or assertive indication.

had revealed that

Replaces 'pointed' with 'revealed', indicating the uncovering of information previously unknown.

had clarified that

Uses 'clarified' instead of 'pointed', emphasizing the removal of ambiguity or confusion.

had emphasized that

Substitutes 'pointed' with 'emphasized', highlighting the importance of the information.

had stressed that

Employs 'stressed' to indicate a forceful insistence on the information's importance.

had drawn attention to that

Replaces "pointed" with the longer phrase "drawn attention to", emphasizing the act of directing focus.

had directed focus to that

Uses "directed focus" instead of "pointed", indicating a deliberate attempt to center attention on something.

FAQs

How can I correctly use a phrase similar to "had pointed that" in a sentence?

To use a similar phrase correctly, ensure you include a subject and clarify what was being indicated. For example, 'The report "had indicated that" changes were necessary'.

What are some alternatives to the phrase "had pointed that"?

Alternatives include '"had mentioned that"', '"had noted that"', or '"had suggested that"', which offer more precise and grammatically correct ways to convey the intended meaning.

Is "had pointed that out" grammatically different from "had pointed that"?

Yes, "had pointed that out" is grammatically sound because it includes the particle 'out', which completes the phrasal verb 'point out'. Without 'out', the sentence structure feels incomplete and less natural.

Why does "had pointed that" sound incomplete?

The phrase "had pointed that" typically requires an object or further clarification to be grammatically complete. Without additional context, it leaves the listener or reader wondering what exactly was pointed or indicated.