had previously heard

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had previously heard" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone received information or knowledge about something before a certain point in time. Example: "She mentioned that she had previously heard about the new policy changes during the last meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Ms. Daniels had previously heard the young musician performing solo at a local spot.

The New York Times

She has described her second husband as an "exploder" and neighbours said they had previously heard the pair arguing in the street.

Independent

The court had previously heard Greene had been discharged from a psychiactric unit and hated the idea of living independently at accommodation arranged for him.

Independent

I had previously heard about other early-decision students who had gotten strong encouragement (read: clear warning) about maintaining their grades.

The New York Times

Stolen information was posted unencrypted on their website and file-sharing sites like Pirate Bay in 2011, the court had previously heard.

Independent

The pairing meant that, in a single week, more people heard the great French composer's work than had previously heard it in half a century.

The Guardian - Music

Indeed Ridley's witty aperçus may have been familiar to delegates who had previously heard his address, "when ideas have sex", at TEDGlobal, another in the dizzying round of global ideas summits promising movers and shakers "brain food".

Independent

The inquiry had previously heard Sinodinos was brought onto the board because of his Liberal party connections as the company anticipated a switch to a Liberal NSW government in 2011.

The Guardian

Icac had previously heard that Kuznetsov told Peter Phillips, an independent certifier, that Iemma would be rolled as premier and afterwards AWH would be awarded a public-private partnership with the state government, making employees and shareholders millions of dollars.

The Guardian

Highbury Corner magistrates court in north London had previously heard Michael was convicted of driving while unfit through drugs after he was found collapsed in his Mercedes in 2006.

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Not at conception, as you may have previously heard".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had previously heard" to clearly establish that information was received before a specific point in time, enhancing clarity and avoiding ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid separating "had" and "heard" with lengthy clauses or adverbs that disrupt the phrase's flow. Instead of "he had, despite his initial skepticism, previously heard...", prefer "he had previously heard, despite his initial skepticism...".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had previously heard" functions as a past perfect construction indicating that an action (hearing) occurred before another point in time in the past. This construction helps establish a clear timeline of events. Ludwig AI confirms this through various examples demonstrating its use in conveying prior knowledge or awareness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Science

32%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

2%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had previously heard" is a grammatically sound and frequently used construction in English, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It serves to indicate that someone was informed or became aware of something at an earlier time. Predominantly found in news, scientific, and general informational contexts, it maintains a neutral tone and provides valuable context by establishing a timeline of events. When using this phrase, ensure that the placement of adverbs doesn't disrupt its flow and that it accurately reflects the sequence of past events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had already heard

Uses "already" instead of "previously" to emphasize the fact that the hearing occurred before now.

had known beforehand

Replaces "heard" with "known" and uses "beforehand" to specify that the knowledge existed prior to a specific event or time.

was already aware

Uses "aware" instead of "heard" to focus on the state of being informed, with "already" indicating prior awareness.

had been informed earlier

Replaces "heard" with "informed" and specifies that the informing occurred "earlier".

had prior knowledge of

Uses the more formal "prior knowledge" to indicate previous awareness, often used in official or academic contexts.

had learned of before

Replaces "heard" with "learned" and uses "before" to indicate the time frame of learning.

had become acquainted with

Uses more formal phrasing, suggesting a process of getting to know something over time.

had received information about

More specific, indicating that information was actively received, rather than passively heard.

was familiar with beforehand

Emphasizes familiarity and uses "beforehand" to clarify the timing.

had encountered previously

Suggests a past experience or exposure to something, not necessarily through auditory means.

FAQs

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

Use "had previously heard" to indicate that someone was informed or became aware of something at an earlier time. For example: "The court "had previously heard" the defendant's alibi."

What's the difference between "had previously heard" and "had already heard"?

While both phrases indicate prior knowledge, "had previously heard" is slightly more formal and emphasizes the sequence of events. "Had already heard" simply stresses that the information was received at some point before now.

Is it correct to say "heard previously" instead of "had previously heard"?

While "heard previously" isn't grammatically incorrect, it lacks the precision and clarity of the past perfect tense. "Had previously heard" more explicitly establishes that the hearing occurred before a certain point in time.

What are some alternatives to "had previously heard" in academic writing?

In academic contexts, consider alternatives like "had prior knowledge of", "had been informed earlier", or "was already aware" to maintain a formal tone.