had starting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had starting" is not correct in standard written English.
It is likely a mistaken combination of tenses and should be revised for clarity and grammatical accuracy. Example: "I had started my project before the deadline."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

"But I don't see any more excitement that they had starting the playoffs".

The New York Times - Sports

He might have been the only coach in the N.F.L. who believed Beck had starting potential.

The New York Times - Sports

Two of the rookies, shortstop Stephen Drew and center fielder Chris Young, had starting jobs assured before the season began.

The New York Times - Sports

But only the Red Sox had starting pitchers with the raw stuff to miss the bat of their foes and make the Cards' best hitters become defensive.

The Washington Post

"He's actually living the dream that he's always had, starting on radio at fourteen and loving TV like he does," she said.

The New Yorker

But the streets were quiet.He and Spillane went back a long way, ever since Spillane had starting banging out his adventures on the trusty Smith Corona.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

It had started snowing.

The New York Times

School had started again.

The New Yorker

She had started it.

The New Yorker

And she had started it.

The New Yorker

They had started to shake.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "had starting" in formal writing. Instead, opt for grammatically correct alternatives such as "had started" or "began starting" to ensure clarity and accuracy.

Common error

A common mistake is to mix past perfect with continuous tenses incorrectly. Ensure that after "had", use the past participle form of the verb (e.g., "started") rather than the present participle (e.g., "starting").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had starting" is an incorrect verb phrase. In English grammar, the auxiliary verb "had" requires a past participle (e.g., started, begun) not a present participle (e.g., starting). According to Ludwig AI, this combination is not correct in standard written English.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had starting" is grammatically incorrect in standard English. As Ludwig AI points out, the auxiliary verb "had" requires a past participle, such as "started" or "begun". Therefore, appropriate alternatives like ""had started"" or "was starting" should be used instead, depending on the intended meaning and context. This ensures clarity and adherence to grammatical rules, particularly in formal or professional writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had started

Corrects the tense to past perfect continuous, indicating a completed action of starting.

had begun to start

Emphasizes the initiation phase with a slightly redundant but grammatically sound structure.

had initiated starting

Uses a more formal verb "initiated" to replace "had", maintaining the continuous aspect.

had commenced starting

Similar to 'initiated' but with 'commenced', adding a sense of formality and commencement.

was starting

Shifts to past continuous, focusing on the ongoing process of starting at a point in the past.

started

Simplifies to past simple, indicating a clear beginning without continuous implication.

began starting

Similar to "had begun to start" emphasizing the initiation of starting with a different word order.

had a start

Focuses on having an initial moment or advantage, changing the meaning slightly to emphasize initiation.

was about to start

Indicates an imminent beginning, altering the aspect to focus on the near future from a past perspective.

was on the verge of starting

Expresses being close to starting, emphasizing proximity rather than the action itself.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "start" in the past perfect tense?

The correct form is "had started". For example, "I "had started" the project before the deadline".

What are some alternatives to "had starting"?

Better alternatives include ""had started"", "began starting", or "was starting" depending on the intended meaning.

Is "had starting" ever grammatically correct?

No, "had starting" is not grammatically correct in standard English. The correct form requires the past participle, such as ""had started"".

How does using "had started" change the meaning compared to "started"?

"Had started" implies that the action was completed before another point in time, while "started" simply indicates that the action began in the past.