had shown that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had shown that" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to something that has already been proven or demonstrated in the past. For example, "The study had shown that a majority of people preferred the taste of the new brand of soda."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

September 11 had shown that overwhelming military power could not guarantee security: nothing can.

The Guardian - Opinion

He had shown that belief in an empowered black community when he took control of his product, namely himself.

Huffington Post

Previously, we had shown that IL-4 as well as B cells promote MCA carcinogenesis [ 26].

Cancer Medicine

Earlier reports had shown that circumcision was protective.

The New York Times - Health

Polls had shown that the UNM would win the election.

The Economist

It had shown that paganism, as a religion, was doomed.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Already this was a good fight: both boxers had shown that they were vulnerable to a hard punch, and both had shown that they could recover.

The New Yorker

Previous stories by the Guardian had shown that the department used employees until at least 2008.

The Guardian

Perhaps because we had shown that pushing at boundaries need not be a bad thing.

The Guardian - Music

He did not think the prosecution had shown that Pistorius had a propensity for violence.

The Guardian

The Birmingham church bombings in 1963 had shown that even children were not off limits.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had shown that" to clearly indicate that something was demonstrated or proven in the past, providing a solid foundation for your current argument.

Common error

While grammatically correct, excessively using "had shown that" can make writing sound repetitive and formal. In less formal contexts, consider using simpler past tense verbs like "showed" or "revealed" for a more natural flow.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had shown that" functions as a verb phrase introducing a subordinate clause. It asserts that evidence or proof was presented in the past, establishing a prior state of knowledge. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

45%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had shown that" is a grammatically sound and frequently used construction to refer to past demonstrations or proofs. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its correctness and usability. It serves to provide a solid basis for claims and is common in both scientific and news contexts. While versatile, its use should be balanced in less formal writing to maintain a natural flow. Alternatives like "had demonstrated that" or "had revealed that" can offer nuanced variations for different contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had demonstrated that

Replaces "shown" with "demonstrated", emphasizing a clear and convincing display of evidence.

had proven that

Uses "proven" instead of "shown", emphasizing a conclusive and definitive result.

had confirmed that

Replaces "shown" with "confirmed", emphasizing the verification of something previously suspected.

had revealed that

Substitutes "shown" with "revealed", suggesting the uncovering of previously unknown information.

had established that

Substitutes "shown" with "established", highlighting the creation of a firm basis or fact.

had evidenced that

Replaces "shown" with "evidenced", focusing on the provision of proof or supporting information.

had indicated that

Replaces "shown" with "indicated", implying a less direct but still suggestive revelation.

had documented that

Uses "documented" instead of "shown", highlighting that information has been formally recorded

had illustrated that

Uses "illustrated" instead of "shown", focusing on the provision of a clear example or visual.

had suggested that

Substitutes "shown" with "suggested", implying a hint or implication rather than a direct statement.

FAQs

How can I use "had shown that" in a sentence?

Use "had shown that" to indicate a past demonstration or proof of something. For example, "The research "had shown that" regular exercise improves cardiovascular health."

What are some alternatives to "had shown that"?

You can use alternatives like "had demonstrated that", "had revealed that", or "had proven that" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "showed that" or "had shown that"?

While both are grammatically correct, "had shown that" implies a completed action in the past that has relevance to the present. "Showed that" is simpler and sufficient for many past tense narratives.

What's the difference between "had shown that" and "indicated that"?

"Had shown that" implies a more direct demonstration or proof, while "indicated that" suggests something was pointed to but not necessarily proven.