had signed up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had signed up" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone completed a registration or enrollment process in the past, often before another event or action. Example: "By the time the event started, she had signed up for the workshop weeks in advance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Sixty moms had signed up.

The New Yorker

They wish they had signed up".

The New York Times - Sports

He had signed up to make $50.

The Guardian

AltaVista had signed up 270,000 subscribers.

The New York Times

At last count well over 300 had signed up.

The Economist

Only 30,000 had signed up as of July.

The New York Times

Some had signed up for a body fat screening.

The New York Times

Three years ago, only half had signed up.

The New York Times

Within one week 250,000 people had signed up.

The Guardian - Business

By July 2013, 113 billionaires had signed up.

The Guardian

Within five days, nearly 8,000 had signed up.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had signed up" to clearly indicate that the act of registering or enrolling occurred before another event in the past. This helps establish a sequence of events for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "signed up" without the auxiliary verb "had" when you need to specify that the action occurred before another point in time. For example, instead of "She signed up before the deadline", use "She "had signed up" before the deadline" to show the sequence of events more clearly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had signed up" functions as a past perfect verb phrase. It indicates an action of registering or enrolling that was completed before another point in time in the past. Ludwig AI shows that this phrase is commonly used to describe past events.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had signed up" is a grammatically sound and frequently used past perfect verb phrase. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage, primarily within news and media contexts. It serves to establish a clear sequence of past events, indicating that registration or enrollment occurred before another point in time. When using this phrase, ensure the context necessitates the past perfect tense to accurately convey the timing of actions. Consider using alternatives like "had registered" or "had enrolled" for a more formal tone, or other options depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had registered

Replaces "signed up" with a more formal term indicating official enrollment or registration.

had enrolled

Similar to "had registered", emphasizing the act of formally joining a course or program.

had subscribed

Implies agreement to receive a service or product regularly.

had enlisted

Suggests joining a military or similar organization.

had joined

A more general term for becoming a member of a group or organization.

had committed

Highlights the act of pledging or dedicating oneself to something.

had put their name down

An informal way of saying someone indicated their interest or intention to participate.

had put themselves down for

Similar to "had put their name down", suggesting a more proactive registration.

had made a reservation

Implies securing a spot or service in advance.

had booked

Similar to "had made a reservation", common for travel or accommodations.

FAQs

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

Use "had signed up" to indicate that someone completed a registration or enrollment process before another action. For instance, "By the time the event started, she "had signed up" for the workshop weeks in advance."

What can I say instead of "had signed up"?

You can use alternatives like "had registered", "had enrolled", or "had subscribed" depending on the specific context.

What is the difference between "signed up" and "had signed up"?

"Signed up" typically refers to a simple past action, while "had signed up" indicates an action completed before another point in time, emphasizing the sequence of events. For example, "She signed up for the class yesterday" vs. "She "had signed up" for the class before it sold out."

Is "have signed up" grammatically correct and when to use it?

Yes, "have signed up" is grammatically correct. Use "have signed up" to indicate an action completed at an indefinite time in the past that has relevance to the present. For example, "I have signed up for the newsletter, so I receive updates now."