had previously distributed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had previously distributed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was given out or shared at an earlier time before the current context. Example: "The committee had previously distributed the updated guidelines to all members before the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The people who know about his work, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment on the matter, said Mr. Gross was sent to research how the groups were making use of the equipment he had previously distributed to them.

The New York Times

The company had previously distributed a million some devices to print subscribers as part of the kickoff celebration around its then-new NYT VR app, built in collaboration with Google, back in November 2015.

TechCrunch

Peter Rice, who at the time oversaw Fox Searchlight and Fox Atomic, brought in the project as Fox Searchlight had previously distributed Cody's film Juno.

Wikipedia

This installment marks a change in production techniques for the Boko Haram insurgency, which had previously distributed less sophisticated videos that typically showed the group's leader, Abubakr Shekau, delivering a rambling stream of sermonizing and invective.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

IFC Films has a history of releasing unconventional horror films, having previously distributed the Norwegian Nazi-zombie feature Dead Snow and the 2009 release Antichrist.

Wikipedia

Ecclestone's great vision – which would set an example for sport in general, notably the English Premier League – was to see that the future lay in television rights, which had previously been distributed piecemeal and for peanuts, and to move his sport into the emerging markets outside Europe.

The Guardian - Books

Similar versions of the survey had previously been distributed to the Danish population on eight previous occasions, starting in the sixties.

Injury Epidemiology

The information regarding the study also included information that had previously been distributed as part of national and local perinatal depression initiatives.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

U.A. as an independent business had previously been distributing MGM films.

The New York Times

By taking data from this new system, the business can now make decisions quicker and easier than ever before, removing the many hours of effort that had previously gone into distributing, managing and consolidating spreadsheets.

The Guardian

Warner Bros. had previously agreed to distribute Fritz the Cat before pulling their funding from that film, but were eager to option the screenplay for Hey Good Lookin', and greenlit the film in 1973.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had previously distributed", ensure it's clear what was distributed and to whom. Specificity enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using additional adverbs that overlap in meaning with "previously", such as "already" or "before". Stick to "had previously distributed" for conciseness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had previously distributed" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect tense. It indicates an action of distributing that was completed before another point in time in the past. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had previously distributed" is a grammatically sound verb phrase in the past perfect tense used to convey an action of distributing that occurred before another point in the past. Ludwig confirms the grammatical correctness and usability of the phrase. Although examples are limited, its register is generally neutral and applicable across various contexts like news, encyclopedias, and scientific articles. When using the phrase, ensure clarity about what was distributed and to whom, avoiding redundant adverbs for conciseness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had distributed before

Replaces "previously" with "before", maintaining the meaning of prior distribution.

had formerly given out

Substitutes "distributed" with "given out" and "previously" with "formerly", indicating past provision.

had earlier dispensed

Replaces "distributed" with "dispensed" and "previously" with "earlier", emphasizing a formal or controlled distribution.

had already circulated

Replaces "distributed" with "circulated" and "previously" with "already", suggesting wider dissemination.

had handed out earlier

Uses "handed out" instead of "distributed" and "earlier" instead of "previously", conveying a more informal sense of giving.

had supplied in the past

Replaces "distributed" with "supplied" and "previously" with "in the past", focusing on the provision of resources.

had provided beforehand

Substitutes "distributed" with "provided" and "previously" with "beforehand", stressing the act of making available.

had disseminated earlier

Replaces "distributed" with "disseminated" and "previously" with "earlier", highlighting widespread distribution.

had issued before then

Uses "issued" instead of "distributed" and "before then" instead of "previously", indicating a formal release or issuance.

had allocated in the past

Replaces "distributed" with "allocated" and "previously" with "in the past", emphasizing a deliberate assignment or allotment.

FAQs

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

You can use "had previously distributed" to indicate that something was given out or shared at an earlier time. For example: "The organization "had previously distributed" the updated guidelines to all members before the meeting."

What is a synonym for "had previously distributed"?

Alternatives to "had previously distributed" include phrases like "had distributed before", "had formerly given out", or "had earlier dispensed" depending on the context.

Is "previously distributed" grammatically correct?

"Previously distributed" is grammatically correct, but lacks the past perfect tense. "Had previously distributed" indicates that the distribution happened before another point in the past.

What's the difference between "distributed previously" and "had previously distributed"?

"Distributed previously" is less common and grammatically awkward. The past perfect construction "had previously distributed" is more standard and clearly indicates an action completed before another point in the past.