had recently begun

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had recently begun" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that an action started not long ago in the past, often in relation to another past event. Example: "She realized that she had recently begun to enjoy painting again after years of neglecting her hobby."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Mr. Comello had recently begun acting erratically.

The New York Times

Researchers had recently begun to investigate various techniques to help teachers improve e-learning systems.

Computers & Education

Andrew Sarris '51, GSAS'98 had recently begun teaching his introductory film course in Butler's basement.

Columbia University

Eyjafjallajökull had recently begun erupting, and he said, "We're here to write about the volcano".

The New Yorker

Mr. Carpenter said that this trend had recently begun to accelerate.

The New York Times

He had recently begun a podcast series called Under the Radar.

The Guardian

Nonetheless, promoters said they had recently begun to try to recruit more men.

The New York Times

In a statement, the mayor said he himself had recently begun to suffer from asthma.

The New York Times

The officers who shot at O'Neal had recently begun wearing their cameras, Guglielmi said.

The Guardian

He said that asynchronous circuits had recently begun gaining acceptance among skeptics trained in synchronous logic.

The New York Times - Tech

He said that he and his father had recently begun trying to reconcile.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had recently begun", ensure the context clearly establishes the timeframe being referenced. This helps to avoid ambiguity and provides a precise understanding of when the action started.

Common error

Avoid using "has recently begun" when referring to a past event; instead, use "had recently begun" to maintain proper tense consistency in your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had recently begun" functions as a verb phrase indicating the commencement of an action or state in the recent past, relative to another point in the past. Ludwig's examples confirm its use in describing actions that started not long ago.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

22%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had recently begun" is grammatically correct and widely used to describe actions that commenced not long before a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its frequent appearance in reputable sources like The New York Times, The Guardian and academic publications, highlighting its neutral to formal register. When utilizing this phrase, ensure proper tense consistency and be mindful of the timeframe to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "had just started" or "had lately started" can offer nuanced variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had just started

Indicates a very recent commencement, similar to the original phrase, but with a stronger emphasis on immediacy.

had lately started

Emphasizes the recent nature of the beginning, focusing on the period leading up to the present.

had newly commenced

A more formal alternative suggesting a fresh start or initiation.

had initiated recently

Focuses on the act of initiating, highlighting the active start of something.

had not long begun

Expresses the short duration since the beginning of the action or state.

had only just begun

Highlights the early stage of the activity, often implying potential for further development.

had started up recently

Suggests a fresh or renewed start, often in a business or project context.

had embarked upon recently

Implies a more significant or committed beginning, often used for journeys or projects.

had gotten underway recently

Indicates the initial phase of a process or activity.

had entered into recently

Suggests formally beginning an activity or state.

FAQs

How can I use "had recently begun" in a sentence?

Use "had recently begun" to describe an action that started in the past, not long before another past event. For example, "She realized that she "had recently begun" to enjoy painting again after years of neglecting her hobby."

What are some alternatives to "had recently begun"?

You can use alternatives like "had just started", "had lately started", or "had newly commenced" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "has recently begun" instead of "had recently begun"?

"Has recently begun" indicates an action that started recently and continues to the present. "Had recently begun" refers to an action that started and was completed in the past. The correct choice depends on whether the action is still ongoing.

What is the difference between "had recently begun" and "had already begun"?

"Had already begun" indicates that the action started sometime before the reference point in the past, while "had recently begun" indicates it started not long before that point. The main difference is the timeframe.