had previously split

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had previously split" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was divided or separated at an earlier time before the current context. Example: "The company had previously split into two separate entities before merging again."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It was founded in September 2004 by left-wing and center-left intellectuals and activists some of whom had previously split from the Lebanese Communist Party (LCP) while some were student activists from the "Independent Leftist Groups".

Wikipedia

US 6, which had previously split away from I-80 at the Dexter exit, was continued along I-80 to the US 169 interchange at De Soto, and then along US 169 to Adel.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The bonkers bit, which aired on the right-wing site Thursday, claimed the storm hitting Hawaii this week had previously been split by an energy beam emanating from Antarctica ― and that Kerry had something to do with launching it.

Huffington Post

In a quest for congressional support, the ever-cautious commander-in-chief found himself making sweeping arguments for moral interventions overseas, and hinting at tougher military action than he had previously planned.His own Democratic Party is split between left-wing doves and Obama loyalists.

The Economist

The step would not abolish the regulatory agency, which the Conservative party had previously pledged to do, but it splits an increasingly important part of the regulator into a separate organization.

The New York Times

A split ileostomy had previously been constituted for bowel decompression.

European Journal of Pediatrics

Dr. Fernando had previously shown that the Asian elephant then split into two main lineages some three million years ago.

The New York Times - Science

In a statement Mr Bercow told MPs he had previously expressed a preference for splitting the job in two, as Parliament's affairs had become "more complex" over the years.

BBC

Last month, a preliminary payment of $1.1 million was made to be split among 13 players (others had previously settled).

The New York Times - Sports

He said he had previously focused his efforts in Bexar County, which he split with Ms. Jones, who hails from the same neighborhood.

The New York Times

Mr. Goldsmith, 64, who split his time between New York and Washington over the last year, had previously served as a two-term mayor of Indianapolis in the 1990s.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had previously split", ensure that the past perfect tense is appropriate by clearly establishing a prior point in time as a reference. This clarifies the sequence of events for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "had previously split" when a simple past tense ("split previously") would suffice. The past perfect is necessary only when indicating an action completed before another action in the past.

Linguistic Context

Had previously split functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect tense. It indicates an action (splitting) that was completed before another action or point in time in the past. Ludwig AI validates this through numerous examples of similar construction.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

34%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had previously split" is a grammatically sound and commonly used past perfect verb phrase to indicate a prior division or separation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in written English. Its frequency across diverse sources such as news media, wikis, and scientific publications underscores its versatility and broad applicability. To enhance clarity, always ensure the context establishes a reference point in the past to warrant the use of past perfect tense. While alternatives such as "previously divided" or "formerly separated" exist, "had previously split" remains a direct and effective means to communicate the sequence of events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previously divided

Replaces "split" with "divided", maintaining the sense of a prior separation.

had been formerly separated

Uses "separated" instead of "split" and "formerly" instead of "previously", slightly increasing formality.

formerly cleaved

Employs "cleaved", a more formal synonym for "split", often used in scientific contexts.

had earlier partitioned

Substitutes "split" with "partitioned", suggesting a more structured or planned division.

previously bifurcated

Uses "bifurcated", implying a division into two distinct parts.

had been previously segmented

Replaces "split" with "segmented", indicating division into multiple segments.

earlier disunited

Uses "disunited" to convey the idea of a prior separation or lack of unity.

had at one time fissured

Employs "fissured", suggesting a split or crack, often in a more abstract or metaphorical sense.

beforehand fragmented

Uses "fragmented" instead of "split", connoting a division into smaller, disconnected pieces.

previously detached

Replaces "split" with "detached", emphasizing the separation or disconnection of elements.

FAQs

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

Use "had previously split" to describe an event that was divided or separated before another event in the past. For instance, "The company "had previously split" into two divisions before merging again last year".

What are some alternatives to "had previously split"?

Alternatives include "previously divided", "formerly separated", or "earlier partitioned". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

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

While "split previously" might be understandable, ""had previously split"" is generally more grammatically correct when you need to emphasize that the splitting occurred before another past event. If you are describing a simple past event, "split" may suffice.

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

"Had previously split" uses the past perfect tense, indicating an action completed before a specific point in the past. "Has previously split" uses the present perfect, indicating an action completed at some unspecified time before now and still relevant to the present.