had recommended that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had recommended that" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express a suggestion or advice given in the past regarding a specific action or decision. Example: "The committee had recommended that the project be postponed until further notice."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

She said that her internist had recommended that she come.

The New Yorker

Guild leaders had recommended that members reject the offer.

The New York Times

His lawyers had recommended that he sell out.

The New York Times

Lawyers for Vick, the Atlanta Falcons quarterback, had recommended that he also accept a plea deal.

The New York Times - Sports

A friend had recommended that he read the early chapters, which dealt with recruiting tactics.

The New York Times

His office had recommended that theaters make the changes, which the owners eventually agreed to do.

The New York Times

The government had recommended that he serve three years in prison.

The New York Times

The Parliament had recommended that airlines be required to buy a quarter of all permits.

The New York Times

Smith had recommended that councillors approve the 3,500-metre 3,500-metre

The Guardian

The Department of Homeland Security had recommended that Mr. Ashcroft grant her asylum, federal officials said.

The New York Times

His attorney had recommended that he plead insanity, but Durham had decided against this.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had recommended that" when you want to emphasize that the recommendation occurred in the past and has relevance to the current situation or outcome. It's particularly useful in reporting on past decisions or actions.

Common error

Avoid using "has recommended that" when the recommendation occurred and concluded in the past. Use "had recommended that" to maintain the correct past perfect tense, especially when discussing events that have already transpired.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had recommended that" functions as a verb phrase indicating a past action of advising or suggesting a particular course of action. Ludwig AI confirms its common use in reporting and recounting past events involving recommendations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had recommended that" is a grammatically correct and frequently used construction to indicate a past recommendation. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's most common in news and media, science, and formal business contexts. The phrase serves to convey advice or suggestion given in the past, often influencing later actions. To ensure clarity, avoid confusing it with present perfect tenses and consider context-appropriate alternatives like "had advised that" or "had suggested that" to express slight differences in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had advised that

Replaces "recommended" with "advised", suggesting a more formal or professional context.

had suggested that

Uses "suggested" instead of "recommended", implying a less forceful endorsement.

had proposed that

Replaces "recommended" with "proposed", indicating a formal presentation of an idea for consideration.

had urged that

Emphasizes the importance of the recommendation, suggesting a strong encouragement.

had advocated that

Indicates a public endorsement or support of the action.

had endorsed that

Implies formal approval or backing of the suggestion.

had counselled that

Uses "counselled" instead of "recommended", implying advice based on expertise or experience.

had prescribed that

Suggests a medical or highly authoritative recommendation.

had stipulated that

Indicates a condition or requirement that was recommended.

had directed that

Emphasizes a command or instruction that was recommended.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "had recommended that"?

You can use alternatives like "had advised that", "had suggested that", or "had proposed that" depending on the context.

How do I use "had recommended that" in a sentence?

Use "had recommended that" to indicate that someone suggested or advised something in the past: "The doctor "had recommended that" she get more rest."

Is "had recommended that" formal or informal?

"Had recommended that" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

What is the difference between ""had recommended that"" and "recommended that"?

"Had recommended that" indicates that the recommendation happened in the past relative to another past event, while "recommended that" generally refers to a recommendation made in the more recent past or present.