had spread through

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had spread through" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the process of something, such as an idea, disease, or information, disseminating or circulating within a particular area or among a group of people. Example: "The news had spread through the community quickly, leaving everyone in shock."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Word had spread through the art world.

The New York Times - Arts

A dull sense of discontent had spread through the zoo.

The Guardian - Books

By the Middle Ages, kale had spread through Europe and Asia.

The New York Times - Magazine

Shockwaves from the devaluation had spread through financial markets, sending stocks and Asian currencies tumbling.

The Guardian - Business

The news had spread through the congregation that the archdiocese had reached the settlement.

The New York Times

Word of the premiere had spread through tenant circles like new rent regulations.

The New York Times

The war that had begun with Hitler's rise to power had spread through Europe and beyond.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

Word has spread through the North Country.

The New York Times

Stage I — few cancer cells have spread through the body.

Harvard University

Since the attacks, the gloom has spread through service industries.

The Economist

Above all, an aggressive new atheism has spread through Britain.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had spread through", ensure the subject clearly indicates what is spreading and the object specifies where it is spreading. For example, "The rumor had spread through the office" is clearer than "It had spread through".

Common error

Avoid using "has spread through" when the context requires a past action completed before another past action. "Had spread through" indicates a completed action in the past relative to another past event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had spread through" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect tense. It indicates an action of dissemination or circulation that was completed before another point in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Science

24%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had spread through" is a grammatically sound and frequently used past perfect verb phrase, as Ludwig AI points out. Its primary function is to describe a completed dissemination or circulation process before another point in time, making it useful in various contexts such as News & Media, Science, and Academia. Remember to use it when indicating an action completed before another past event. While alternatives like "had permeated throughout" or "had diffused across" exist, "had spread through" remains a versatile and widely understood choice for expressing dissemination. Be mindful of the correct tense and avoid using it when a simple past or present perfect tense is more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had permeated throughout

Uses "permeated" to emphasize thorough penetration, suggesting a more complete spread.

had diffused across

Employs "diffused" to highlight a gradual and even distribution across an area.

had propagated among

"Propagated" suggests a more active and expansive spread, often used for ideas or information.

had extended into

"Extended" focuses on the reach or scope of the spread, indicating a broader influence.

had filtered into

Suggests a gradual and selective spread, as if passing through a filter.

had cascaded down

Emphasizes a downward or hierarchical spread, often used for information or influence.

had radiated from

"Radiated" implies a spread from a central point, like rays emanating outwards.

had rippled across

Illustrates a spread that creates a series of effects, like ripples in water.

had pervaded within

"Pervaded" suggests a deep and all-encompassing spread, affecting everything within.

had saturated the area

Indicates that the spread was so thorough that the area is completely filled or affected.

FAQs

How can I use "had spread through" in a sentence?

Use "had spread through" to describe something that disseminated or circulated within a defined space or group before a specific point in the past. For example, "By the time authorities arrived, the fire "had spread through" the building".

What are some alternatives to "had spread through"?

You can use alternatives like "had permeated throughout", "had diffused across", or "had extended into" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "has spread through" instead of "had spread through"?

The choice between "has spread through" and "had spread through" depends on the tense you want to convey. "Has spread through" indicates a present perfect tense, meaning the spreading started in the past and continues to the present or has a present result. "Had spread through" indicates a past perfect tense, describing an action completed before another action in the past.

What's the difference between "had spread through" and "spread through"?

"Spread through" is in the simple past tense, indicating an action that occurred and finished in the past. "Had spread through" is in the past perfect tense, indicating an action completed before another point in the past. For example, "The news spread through the town quickly" (simple past) versus "The news "had spread through" the town before anyone could confirm it" (past perfect).