had revoked

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had revoked" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that an action of revocation occurred before another past action or time. Example: "By the time the meeting started, the committee had revoked the previous decision."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

The home ministry had revoked its licence a week earlier.

The Economist

The Iraqi government said it had revoked Blackwater's license.

The New York Times

We are still waiting to find out whether Britain told Washington that it had revoked the suspect's visa.

The New York Times

Officials there, describing his affiliation with Mr. bin Laden as traitorous, said they had revoked his citizenship.

The New York Times

The State Department said today that it had revoked his visa last year, but that it had not notified him.

The New York Times

On April 4 Lazaro Gonzalez was advised by letter that Attorney General Reno had revoked Elian's parole in his care.

The New York Times

Still others wanted Santa Anna to agree to restore an earlier Mexican constitution that he had revoked.

The New York Times

By late 2004, the United States had revoked the travel ban, established limited diplomatic relations, and lifted many remaining trade restrictions.

The New Yorker

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board announced on Wednesday that it had revoked the registration of the firm and fined it $20,000.

The New York Times

The city had revoked the permit for the annual party, but the group had worked with the local police precinct to close the street.

The New York Times

(The I.R.S. that summer had revoked the tax-exempt status of its related advocacy group for failing to file such forms).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had revoked", ensure that the context clearly establishes the prior action that led to the revocation. For example, "Because of repeated violations, the authority had revoked the license."

Common error

Avoid using "had revoked" when the context requires a simple past tense. For example, instead of "The council had revoked the permit yesterday", use "The council revoked the permit yesterday".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had revoked" functions as a past perfect verb phrase, indicating that an action of revocation was completed before another point in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct. Numerous examples from Ludwig illustrate its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

93%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Academic

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had revoked" is a grammatically sound and widely used past perfect verb construction. As Ludwig AI confirms, its primary function is to indicate that an action of revocation occurred before another event in the past. It appears most frequently in "News & Media", demonstrating its utility in providing context and establishing timelines. While generally neutral to formal, it's suitable for various writing contexts. To ensure correct usage, remember to use "had revoked" only when referencing a past action completed before another past event, avoiding simple past tense situations. By understanding its function and context, you can confidently incorporate "had revoked" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had rescinded

Replaces "revoked" with "rescinded", implying a more formal or official cancellation.

had withdrawn

Uses "withdrawn" instead of "revoked", suggesting removal or retraction of something.

had canceled

Substitutes "revoked" with "canceled", a more common and less formal alternative.

had annulled

Replaces "revoked" with "annulled", implying that something has been declared void.

had repealed

Uses "repealed" instead of "revoked", specifically for laws or regulations.

had invalidated

Replaces "revoked" with "invalidated", meaning something has been made ineffective.

had nullified

Uses "nullified" instead of "revoked", emphasizing the act of making something legally void.

had overturned

Replaces "revoked" with "overturned", often used in the context of legal decisions or verdicts.

had abolished

Uses "abolished" instead of "revoked", suggesting the complete elimination of something.

had retracted

Replaces "revoked" with "retracted", implying a formal withdrawal of a statement or promise.

FAQs

How is "had revoked" used in a sentence?

The phrase "had revoked" is used to indicate that an action of revocation occurred before another past action or time. Example: "By the time the meeting started, the committee "had revoked" the previous decision."

What can I say instead of "had revoked"?

You can use alternatives like "had canceled", "had withdrawn", or "had rescinded" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "had revoked" or "revoked"?

The choice between "had revoked" and "revoked" depends on the context and the timing of events. "Had revoked" indicates that the revocation happened before another action in the past. "Revoked" is used for a simple past action.

What's the difference between "had revoked" and "revoked"?

"Had revoked" is in the past perfect tense, indicating an action completed before another past action. "Revoked" is in the simple past tense, describing an action that happened at a specific time in the past. For example, "The State Medical Board said Wednesday that it "had revoked" the license of Dr. Michael Kamrava" indicates the action was completed prior to saying it.