had previously decided

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'had previously decided' is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It can be used in a variety of contexts to indicate that something was decided or determined in the past. Example: The committee had previously decided to allocate the funds towards the renovation of the school gymnasium.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

The commission had previously decided to withhold payment of more than €290 million because of Bulgaria's lack of progress.

The New York Times

The lorry would simply unload whatever story it had previously decided to unload, with a crash, and that was that.

The Guardian - Opinion

The disclosure of ABC figures for both sites marks a change in tack from owner Richard Desmond, who had previously decided against the independent auditing of traffic figures.

The Guardian

And that limit, the Brussels authorities had previously decided, would be the Polish-Ukrainian border.In this section In search of plan B One more dubious vote?

The Economist

The South Yorkshire police chief constable, Peter Wright, had previously decided with the force's prosecuting solicitor to bring charges of riot and unlawful assembly, which carried potential life sentences, if the circumstances warranted it.

The Guardian

Mr Baird had denied claims of the creation of an engineering job in 1993 to suit Mr Voinov, and the commission had previously decided not to instigate a formal inquiry.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

The court has previously decided that it's illegal to draw district plans that harm minority voters, but they have never declared a partisan plan unconstitutional.

The Washington Post

I'm doing a Gaga on Guetta, which is to say that, having previously decided that he was ruining R&B by turning all of my favourite ladies into Euro cheesemongers, I've changed my mind.

The Guardian - Music

Marnell wrote about her own experiences with passing out in the bath after doing drugs, which not only shed light on what might have gone down at the Beverly Hilton but also, for me, brought back memories of my own lost years: coming to consciousness in a tub of cold water at 5 a.m., having previously decided that nothing calmed the fires of two bottles of wine like a leisurely soak.

The New York Times - Magazine

The board has previously decided that the terms of Ashley's loan offer at that time were not acceptable.

BBC

For creators, it almost always requires some level of arrogance, because creation is about assuming that our vision for the world is more correct than what others have previously decided.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had previously decided" to clearly indicate that a decision was made before a specific event or time, emphasizing the sequence of events. This helps avoid ambiguity and clarifies the timeline.

Common error

Avoid using "has previously decided" when referring to a past action completed before another past action. Use "had previously decided" to maintain the correct past perfect tense, ensuring clarity and grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had previously decided" functions as a past perfect verb phrase, indicating an action (deciding) completed before another point in the past. It is commonly used to establish a sequence of events, emphasizing that the decision preceded a subsequent action or situation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Science

26%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

2%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had previously decided" is a grammatically sound and widely used past perfect construction that signals a decision made before a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and versatility. Predominantly found in News & Media and Scientific contexts, it maintains a neutral to formal register. When writing, ensure the correct past perfect tense to avoid errors. Consider related phrases such as "had earlier resolved" or "had formerly determined" for varied wording. Ludwig's analysis highlights the importance of context and precision when employing this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had earlier resolved

Replaces "decided" with "resolved", emphasizing the firmness of the decision.

had formerly determined

Uses "formerly determined" to highlight that the decision was made at a prior time.

had already concluded

Emphasizes the completion of the decision-making process in the past.

had settled on before

Indicates a choice made prior to the current situation.

had beforehand agreed

Stresses the agreement aspect of the decision made in advance.

had prearranged

Highlights the advanced arrangement aspect of the decision.

had opted for earlier

Focuses on the act of choosing an option at an earlier time.

had designated beforehand

Emphasizes a prior designation or appointment.

had forecast

Highlights anticipating and preparing for something in advance.

had premeditated

Implies a more deliberate and planned prior decision.

FAQs

How can I use "had previously decided" in a sentence?

Use "had previously decided" to show that a decision was made before a specific event in the past. For example: "The council "had previously decided" to allocate funds for the new park, so the project started immediately."

What's the difference between "had previously decided" and "has previously decided"?

"Had previously decided" is used for actions completed before another point in the past, while "has previously decided" is used for actions completed before the present. For example: "They "had previously decided" on the location before the meeting started" vs. "The committee "has previously decided" to postpone the event."

Are there formal alternatives to "had previously decided"?

Yes, formal alternatives include "had formerly determined" or "had earlier resolved". These options provide a more sophisticated tone suitable for professional or academic writing.

What can I say instead of "had previously decided" in informal writing?

In more casual contexts, consider using phrases like "had already decided" or "had settled on before". These alternatives are simpler and maintain a conversational tone.