had revealed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had revealed" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something was disclosed or made known prior to a certain point in time, often in a narrative context. Example: "The investigation had revealed several inconsistencies in the witness statements that changed the course of the trial."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

My quest had revealed itself.

The New York Times

They had revealed little.

The Guardian

They had revealed their intentions remarkably early.

Independent

A whole world had revealed itself.

The New York Times - Arts

Watts and Barabasi had revealed the hidden world behind networks.

Cornell University

Cruz told them that last week's debate had revealed personalities.

The Guardian

No police officer had revealed anything about the circumstances.

The New York Times

I had revealed myself to be the enemy".

The New York Times - Books

His critics said the remark had revealed his true colors.

The New York Times

The M.R.I. had revealed a tiny tumor in the pituitary.

The New York Times

Two CT scans and an M.R.I. had revealed nothing.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had revealed" to indicate that information became known before a specific point in the past. It's particularly effective in narrative contexts where establishing a sequence of events is important.

Common error

Don't overuse the past perfect tense. If the context clearly establishes that the revealing occurred before another past event, the simple past tense ("revealed") might be more concise.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had revealed" functions as a past perfect transitive verb phrase. It indicates an action of disclosing or making something known that was completed before another point in the past. As Ludwig AI suggests, it’s grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had revealed" is a grammatically sound and frequently used past perfect verb phrase. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread applicability. Its primary function is to indicate the disclosure of information prior to another event in the past, commonly found in news, academic and scientific contexts. While versatile, it's important to avoid overuse when a simple past tense suffices. Consider related phrases like "had disclosed" or "had uncovered" for subtle shifts in meaning. Remember to use "had revealed" when sequencing events and emphasizing prior discovery is crucial for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had disclosed

Emphasizes the act of making something known that was previously secret or private.

had uncovered

Highlights the process of discovery, often through investigation or research.

had unveiled

Suggests a formal or ceremonial presentation of something new or previously hidden.

had made known

A more formal and general way of saying "had revealed".

had brought to light

Emphasizes the illuminating aspect of the revelation, making something clear.

had exposed

Implies uncovering something discreditable or previously concealed.

had divulged

Suggests reluctantly or carelessly revealing information.

had shown

A simple and direct way of indicating that something was made visible or apparent.

had demonstrated

Highlights the act of proving something through evidence or example.

had pointed out

Focuses on drawing attention to a specific detail or fact.

FAQs

How can I use "had revealed" in a sentence?

Use "had revealed" to indicate that something became known or was disclosed before a particular point in the past. For example: "The investigation "had revealed" several inconsistencies in the witness's testimony."

What are some alternatives to "had revealed"?

You can use alternatives such as "had disclosed", "had uncovered", or "had exposed", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "had revealed" and "revealed"?

"Had revealed" is in the past perfect tense, indicating an action completed before another point in the past. "Revealed" is in the simple past tense, indicating an action that occurred in the past without specifying its relationship to another past event. Use "had revealed" when you need to emphasize the sequence of events.

When is it appropriate to use "had revealed" instead of "showed" or "demonstrated"?

Use "had revealed" when you want to emphasize the act of uncovering or disclosing something that was previously unknown or hidden. "Showed" or "demonstrated" are more appropriate when you want to highlight the act of making something visible or proving something through evidence.