had run far

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had run far" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone or something has traveled a significant distance in the past, often in a narrative or descriptive context. Example: "By the time they reached the village, they had run far and were exhausted from the journey."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The technology had run far ahead of the imagination of legislators.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Mr. Obama's campaign has run far more ads than Mr. Romney in the last several weeks.

The New York Times

EDF is also under financial stress because a new nuclear plant at Flamanville in Normandy, north-west France, has run far over budget and been hit by delays.

The Guardian - Business

Instead, he has run far to his right, giving voice to false and misleading claims about Mr. Obama's birth certificate, and reversing his prior, more moderate positions on gay rights and abortion.

The New York Times

And it gently informs of a rate increase for all the information on promising players, a $25 bump to $75. "Frankly speaking, printing, scouting, mailing and telephone costs have run far beyond our original anticipation," one line reads.

The New York Times - Sports

But the situation on the ground has run far ahead of the political planning, with proposals for some sort of temporary United Nations administration buttressed by an international force still vague.

The New York Times

But Raphael de Cunto of Pinheiro Neto, a São Paulo law firm, argues that the government's ability to collect taxes has run far ahead of any effort to streamline them, increasing the burden on businesses.For some, political intervention has supplanted an overvalued currency as the biggest risk in Brazil.

The Economist

Like many of the 16 states and the District of Columbia that are operating their own marketplaces, California's health insurance website has run far more smoothly than the federal website, which handles the online enrollment for 34 states that declined to set up their own exchanges.

The New York Times

She said the illness had been a factor in her slow time, but feels she should still have run far quicker.

BBC

The project aims to develop a new source of energy through fusion of hydrogen atoms--the same process that powers the sun--but it has run far over the original budget.

Huffington Post

Once you've run far enough so that the bees are no longer visible on screen, hit the "X" button to open your inventory.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had run far" to emphasize a significant physical distance covered, often implying effort or escape. Consider the context to ensure the past perfect tense is appropriate, indicating the action was completed before another point in time.

Common error

Avoid using "had run far" when a simple past tense ("ran far") would suffice. The past perfect is necessary only when describing an action completed before another action in the past. For example, "They ran far away from the danger" is correct if the running is the main event in the past, whereas "They "had run far" by the time the rescue team arrived" indicates the running was completed before the arrival.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had run far" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect tense. It typically describes an action of moving a considerable distance that was completed before another action or point in time. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had run far" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe the act of covering a considerable distance before a specific time or event in the past. Ludwig confirms its acceptability. While its usage is relatively rare, it effectively conveys a sense of significant movement completed prior to another occurrence. The phrase is most commonly found in news and media contexts and maintains a neutral register, suitable for various writing styles. Related phrases include "had traveled extensively" and "had gone a long way", offering alternative ways to express similar ideas.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had come a long distance

Similar meaning, focusing on the completed journey.

had gone a long way

A more general way of saying someone achieved a lot or covered significant distance.

had traveled extensively

Focuses on the breadth of travel rather than just distance.

had progressed rapidly

Emphasizes the speed of advancement, not necessarily physical distance.

had advanced significantly

Highlights progress or advancement beyond a certain point, rather than literal running.

had roamed extensively

Highlights wandering across a large area.

had strayed too far

Suggests deviating or wandering beyond acceptable limits.

had left far behind

Emphasizes the act of outstripping or surpassing others.

had exceeded expectations

Implies surpassing anticipated outcomes, not physical movement.

had overstepped boundaries

Focuses on transgressing limits, rather than covering distance.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "had run far" to sound more formal?

In more formal contexts, consider alternatives such as "had traveled extensively" or "had progressed significantly". The choice depends on whether you're referring to physical distance or metaphorical progress.

What's the difference between "had run far" and "ran far"?

"Had run far" uses the past perfect tense, indicating the action was completed before another point in the past. "Ran far" uses the simple past tense, describing a completed action in the past without reference to another time. For example, "They "had run far" before they realized they were lost" versus "They ran far this morning".

Is "had run far" appropriate for describing abstract progress?

While "had run far" typically refers to physical distance, it can be metaphorically applied to abstract progress. However, ensure the context is clear. Alternatives like "had advanced significantly" or "had progressed rapidly" might be more suitable.

When should I use "had run far" instead of "had run away"?

"Had run far" emphasizes the distance covered, while "had run away" emphasizes the act of escaping. If the distance is important, use "had run far". If the escape is the focus, use "had run away".