had signed a document

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'had signed a document' is grammatically correct in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to something that has already happened in the past. For example: "My parents had signed a document giving me permission to go on a school trip."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Before leaving Shanghai, though, she had signed a document testifying that she was Zau's legally married wife.

The New Yorker

(Aiken had been censured for denying that he had signed a document that he had in fact signed).

The New Yorker

Shostakovich had signed a document promising to raise Weinberg's daughter if both parents were taken; instead, he was able to secure Weinberg's release.

The Guardian - Music

Splinter factions of two Sudanese rebel groups that rejected the Darfur peace accord last month said they had signed a document pledging to abide by its principles.

The New York Times

Among other allegations he claimed that there had been irregularities in the vote counting, ignoring the fact that in every counting centre a Unita representative had signed a document accepting that the count had been free and fair.

Independent

In an action that could make them unwitting allies of critics who contend the United Nations is incapable of being reformed, the developing nations pushed for passage of the measure under the committee's traditional procedure of approval by consensus, even in the knowledge that 45 nations had signed a document saying they were opposed to it.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Had she accepted, Belle would have signed a document agreeing not to argue about religion with her husband.

The Guardian - Books

More than 700 independent record labels from 23 countries have signed a document calling for fair and transparent digital music deals.

The Guardian - Music

The third link was for the Global Warming Petition Project, which states that 31,487 American scientists, "including 9,029 with PhDs," have signed a document disputing the risks of climate change.

The New Yorker

(AP) The captains of all 20 Serie A clubs have signed a document warning the Italian league that there will be a strike if a new collective contract is not signed before the start of the season later this month.

The New York Times - Sports

British academics criticize changes to college financing Hundreds of academics from across Britain have signed a document criticizing the government's changes to university financing, describing the policies as a "dismantling of public higher education".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had signed a document", ensure the context clearly establishes the relevance and implications of the signature. Consider specifying what the document pertained to for clarity.

Common error

Avoid phrases like "had signed a signed document". The verb "signed" already implies the existence of a document. Instead, focus on providing context about the document's purpose or content.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had signed a document" functions as a past perfect verb phrase, indicating that the action of signing a document was completed before another point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had signed a document" is a grammatically correct way to describe a past action completed before another point in time, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Predominantly found in news, scientific, and formal business contexts, it serves to communicate the prior completion of a formal action. While not exceedingly common, its usage is widespread enough to be considered acceptable. When using this phrase, remember to ensure that the temporal relationship between the signing and the subsequent event is clear. Consider alternatives like "had endorsed a document" or "had executed a document" for nuanced meanings. Avoid redundant phrasing. Ensure the context clearly establishes the relevance and implications of the signature.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had put their signature on a document

More descriptive way of saying "had signed a document".

had given their signature to a document

Similar to putting a signature but emphasizes the act of giving consent.

had endorsed a document

Replaces 'signed' with 'endorsed', implying approval in addition to signing.

had executed a document

Uses 'executed' instead of 'signed', suggesting formal completion of the document.

had ratified a document

Replaces 'signed' with 'ratified', indicating formal approval and validation.

had authenticated a document

Uses 'authenticated' suggesting verification and genuine approval through signing.

had validated a document

Uses 'validated' suggesting verification and approval through signing.

had officially approved a document

Emphasizes the official nature of the document and approval process.

had formally agreed to a document

Highlights the agreement aspect conveyed by signing the document.

had legally committed to a document

Focuses on the legal implications of signing.

FAQs

How can I use "had signed a document" in a sentence?

You can use "had signed a document" to indicate a past action of signing an official paper, for example: "The CEO "had signed a document" approving the merger before the end of the fiscal year."

What is a more formal alternative to "had signed a document"?

A more formal alternative could be "had executed a document", which implies a formal and legally binding agreement.

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

"Had signed a document" indicates an action completed before a specific point in the past, while "signed a document" simply indicates a past action without specifying its relation to another past event. For example, "Before the meeting, he "had signed a document"". Whereas "He "signed a document" yesterday".

When is it appropriate to use "had signed a document" instead of "signed a document"?

Use "had signed a document" when you want to emphasize that the signing occurred before another event in the past. For example, "By the time the audit began, the CFO "had signed a document" confirming the financial statements."