had remained silent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had remained silent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a state of not speaking or expressing oneself, typically in a past context. Example: "During the meeting, she had remained silent, choosing to listen rather than contribute her thoughts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

For six months Oskar Lafontaine had remained silent.

The Economist

She had remained silent since his election on 6 May.

The Guardian - Opinion

Most of his alleged victims had remained silent.

The Guardian

Suppose on Thursday plaintiff had offered £750 and the defendant had remained silent.

Harvard University

During the meeting with the epidemiologists, Sannoh had remained silent, regarding them with a wary expression.

The New Yorker

Mr. Karadzic was questioned, but ministers said he had remained silent.

The New York Times

That would have changed if East had remained silent over five diamonds.

The New York Times - Arts

There were some black leaders who, as Sharpton noted later, had remained silent that day.

The New York Times - Magazine

The counsellor had attended the staff meeting where Mallinckrodt spoke out, but she had remained silent.

The New Yorker

Justice Stevens had remained silent during that first half of the argument, but now he pounced.

The New York Times

After Mr. Boulez left, I asked Cage why he had remained silent.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To add stylistic variety, use synonyms like "kept quiet", or "refrained from speaking". However, these may subtly shift the emphasis.

Common error

While grammatically correct, overuse of passive constructions like "had remained silent" can make your writing sound indirect. Consider whether an active voice alternative, such as "chose silence", would be more impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had remained silent" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect tense, indicating a state of silence that persisted until a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Academia

8%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Science

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had remained silent" is a grammatically correct and widely used expression, as validated by Ludwig AI, to describe a sustained period of silence in the past. It's particularly common in news and media contexts. When writing, consider synonyms like "kept quiet" or "refrained from speaking" for variety, but be mindful of subtle shifts in meaning. Avoid overuse of passive constructions for stronger writing. Remember to leverage the nuanced meaning of this term to improve the depth of your content.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had kept quiet

Replaces "remained silent" with "kept quiet", focusing on the act of not making noise.

had not spoken

Directly states the absence of speaking, simplifying the original phrase.

had been quiet

Uses "been quiet" to emphasize a state of being rather than an action.

had refrained from speaking

Emphasizes the deliberate act of holding back from speaking.

had held their tongue

An idiomatic expression for not speaking, implying restraint.

had offered no comment

Focuses on the absence of any official statement or reaction.

had stayed mute

Uses "mute" to describe a state of being unable or unwilling to speak.

had given no response

Highlights the lack of any kind of answer or reaction.

had been uncommunicative

Describes a lack of willingness to communicate in any form.

had suppressed their voice

Suggests an active effort to prevent oneself from speaking or expressing an opinion.

FAQs

How can I use "had remained silent" in a sentence?

You can use "had remained silent" to describe someone's choice not to speak, as in "She "had remained silent" during the entire meeting."

What are some alternatives to "had remained silent"?

Alternatives include "had kept quiet", "had not spoken", or "had been quiet", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "had remained silent" or "stayed silent"?

"Had remained silent" implies a more prolonged or deliberate silence compared to "stayed silent", which can suggest a shorter duration.

When is it appropriate to use "had remained silent" instead of a more direct phrase like "didn't speak"?

"Had remained silent" is appropriate when you want to emphasize the duration or the context of the silence, particularly when there was an expectation or opportunity to speak. "Didn't speak" is a more general statement of not speaking.