had secured

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had secured" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something was obtained or achieved in the past before another past event. Example: "By the time the meeting started, she had secured all the necessary approvals."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We had secured Basra.

The New Yorker

Since then, nobody had secured the scene for an investigation.

The New Yorker

The union had secured a huge share of league revenue.

The New York Times - Sports

Now its brash new affiliate had secured itself a state.

The New Yorker

Clottey had secured the fight he always wanted.

The New York Times

Within an hour, the authorities had secured the city center.

The New York Times

First, he had secured his own future at the company.

Harvard Business Review

The farmer was a friend whose permission we had secured.

The New York Times - Travel

"Shortly after 10pm, the teams had secured all four wings.

The Guardian

He knew he had secured his legend status.

The Guardian - Sport

Selena had secured contracts with Coca-Cola and Agree shampoo.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had secured" to clearly indicate that an action of securing something was completed before another point in the past. For example, "By the time the deal was announced, the company had secured all necessary funding."

Common error

Avoid using "had secured" when a simple past tense ("secured") is sufficient. Overusing the past perfect can make your writing sound unnecessarily convoluted. Only use it when you need to emphasize that the securing action happened before another past action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had secured" functions as a past perfect verb phrase. It indicates that an action of securing or obtaining something was completed before another action or time in the past. This is consistent with Ludwig's AI analysis that classifies it as grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Academia

24%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had secured" is a grammatically sound and versatile past perfect construction widely used to indicate that a securing action occurred before another event in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It is prevalent in news, academic, and scientific contexts, indicating its adaptability across various registers. When writing, it's important to avoid overuse and ensure that the past perfect tense is necessary to convey the correct sequence of events. Alternatives such as "had obtained", "had acquired", or "had ensured" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had obtained

Emphasizes the act of getting or acquiring something.

had acquired

Focuses on gaining possession of something, often through effort or investment.

had achieved

Focuses on successfully completing something, often overcoming obstacles.

had ensured

Highlights the act of guaranteeing or making certain of a specific outcome.

had clinched

Implies a decisive victory or securing something with certainty.

had guaranteed

Stresses the act of providing a formal assurance about something.

had locked in

Suggests securing something to prevent changes or loss.

had finalized

Implies the completion of something to prevent changes or loss

had attained

Suggests reaching a certain level or status after a period of effort.

had finalized

Highlights the completion of a process or agreement.

FAQs

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

Use "had secured" to show that an action of securing happened before another action in the past. Example: "Before the negotiations began, the team "had secured" the support of key stakeholders."

What are some alternatives to "had secured"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "had obtained", "had acquired", or "had ensured".

Is it correct to say "secured" instead of "had secured"?

It depends on the context. "Secured" (simple past) describes a completed action in the past. "Had secured" (past perfect) describes an action completed before another point in the past. If there's no need to emphasize the sequence, "secured" might be sufficient.

What's the difference between "had secured" and "was securing"?

"Had secured" indicates a completed action before another point in the past, while "was securing" indicates an ongoing action in the past. For example, "They "had secured" the perimeter before reinforcements arrived" versus "They "were securing" the perimeter when reinforcements arrived".