had signed a decree

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had signed a decree" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone completed the action of signing a decree at a specific point in the past, often before another past event. Example: "The president had signed a decree to implement the new policy before the meeting took place."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Then the Kremlin called to say that President Yeltsin had signed a decree appointing him.

The New York Times - Books

The Kremlin published a statement saying Mr. Putin had signed a decree removing Mr. Surkov from his position "by his own volition" effective immediately.

The New York Times

And on Thursday, the Kremlin announced that Mr. Putin had kept his promise and had signed a decree making Mr. Depardieu a citizen of Russia.

The New York Times

Mr. Morales said he had signed a decree to nationalize the company and ordered Gen. Tito Gandarillas, the commander of the armed forces, to immediately take over the management and assets of T.D.E.

The New York Times

The Kremlin announced Thursday that President Vladimir V. Putin had signed a decree granting Russian citizenship to Gérard Depardieu, the French actor who has been feuding publicly with French officials over the country's high tax rates on the wealthy.

The New York Times

Vladimir Putin had signed a decree to grant citizenship to Jones in September after the boxer announced his intent to apply during an August meeting with the Russian president in Crimea, the territory annexed by Russia last year.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

"I have signed a decree on a state of war.

The Guardian

Artists and preservationists are in uproar because Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin has signed a decree that critics say would allow developers to demolish a Soviet-era cultural landmark, the Central House of Artists.

The New York Times

Turkey's president has signed a decree that allows for the extension of the pre-charge detention period and the closure of institutions linked to Fethullah Gülen, the exiled cleric blamed for masterminding last weekend's failed military coup.

The Guardian

The king of Spain has signed a decree dissolving parliament and setting an election for 26 June after politicians chosen in an inconclusive December vote failed to agree on the country's next prime minister.

The Guardian

Kazakhstan's president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, has signed a decree merging the oil and gas company Kazakhoil and the oil and gas transportation company Transneftegaz, the two main state-owned companies.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had signed a decree" to clearly indicate that the action of signing the decree occurred before another event in the past, establishing a sequence of events.

Common error

Avoid using "has signed a decree" when you need to emphasize the completion of the action in the past relative to another past event; "had signed" correctly places the action in the past perfect tense.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had signed a decree" functions as a verb phrase indicating a completed action in the past perfect tense. This structure is typically used to establish a sequence of events, where the signing of the decree occurred before another event. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had signed a decree" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe the act of formally authorizing a decision or order before another event in the past. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability. Predominantly found in News & Media, this phrase serves to report on the implementation of policies and rules. When employing this phrase, ensure that the past perfect tense is appropriate to emphasize the sequence of events. Remember to select the appropriate context for ""had signed a decree"" such as news report and legal documentation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

issued a decree

Replaces the verb "signed" with "issued", focusing on the act of formally announcing the decree.

approved a decree

Focuses on the act of giving official approval or consent to the decree.

enacted a decree

Emphasizes the implementation of the decree into law or policy.

passed a decree

Highlights the action of successfully legislating or enacting the decree.

authorized a decree

Highlights the act of giving official permission for the decree.

decreed

A more concise, single-word verb form conveying the same meaning.

promulgated a decree

Stresses the formal proclamation or publication of the decree.

ratified a decree

Focuses on the formal confirmation of the decree, making it officially valid.

ordained a decree

Emphasizes the authoritative or formal nature of the decree.

validated a decree

Highlights confirming and ensuring the legal validity of the decree.

FAQs

How to use "had signed a decree" in a sentence?

Use "had signed a decree" to describe an action that was completed before another point in the past. For example, "The president "had signed a decree" before the parliament session began".

What can I say instead of "had signed a decree"?

You can use alternatives like "issued a decree", "enacted a decree", or "approved a decree" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "has signed a decree" instead of "had signed a decree"?

"Has signed a decree" indicates a present perfect action, while ""had signed a decree"" indicates a past perfect action, completed before another point in the past. The choice depends on the intended timeline.

What's the difference between "signed a decree" and "had signed a decree"?

"Signed a decree" describes a completed action in the past, while ""had signed a decree"" emphasizes that the action was completed before another event in the past. The past perfect tense adds a sense of prior completion.