had struggled through

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had struggled through" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a past experience where someone faced difficulties or challenges but managed to overcome them. Example: "After months of hard work, she had struggled through the toughest parts of her training and finally felt ready for the competition."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

Maybe she had struggled through college, too.

The New York Times

The sun had struggled through the clouds.

The New York Times

Participants who had struggled through the waiting period were pleasantly surprised when they found out they'd passed.

Independent

Gilmour had struggled through the first third of the season, going without a goal through the Canadiens' first 29 games.

The New York Times - Sports

He had struggled through his three-inning stint, giving up four earned runs, five hits and two walks.

The New York Times - Sports

If they passed, participants who had struggled through the waiting period were more pleasantly surprised, while participants who had made it through easily were relatively underwhelmed.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

The restaurant has struggled through hard times before.

The New York Times

Americans have struggled through the worst recession in decades.

The New York Times

Seaton has struggled through the minutes and done the interviews.

The Guardian - Books

Newsweek has struggled through the recession more than most weekly news magazines.

The New York Times

And working Americans have struggled through stagnant wages for far too long".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a process, follow "had struggled through" with specifics. Instead of saying 'They had struggled through,' say 'They "had struggled through" the recession' to provide context.

Common error

Avoid using "had struggled through" when the struggle is ongoing. The phrase implies a completed action. Use 'is struggling through' or 'has been struggling through' for current struggles.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had struggled through" functions as a past perfect verb phrase, indicating that an action of struggling occurred and was completed before another point in the past. Ludwig AI indicates that this usage is grammatically sound and frequently appears in established writing.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Sports

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Books

5%

Science & Research

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had struggled through" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase that describes a past experience of enduring and overcoming difficulties. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is prevalent across various sources, particularly in news and sports, where it serves to highlight the effort and resilience of individuals or groups. While alternatives like "had battled through" or "had persevered through" offer subtle variations in meaning, "had struggled through" remains a versatile choice for conveying both the challenge and the ultimate success in a given situation. Remember to use it when the struggle is completed and, if possible, add context after the phrase to make the message clear.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had battled through

Emphasizes a more active and confrontational struggle.

had persevered through

Highlights the aspect of persistence and determination.

had overcome difficulties

Focuses on the successful resolution of challenging situations.

had weathered the storm

Uses a metaphorical expression to describe enduring a difficult period.

had made it through

A more general phrase indicating survival or completion despite hardship.

had navigated challenges

Emphasizes skillful management of difficult situations.

had endured hardships

Focuses on the suffering experienced during a difficult time.

had triumphed over adversity

Highlights a significant victory after a challenging experience.

had pulled through

Suggests a recovery from a near-failure or critical situation.

had risen above

Implies overcoming something that was initially overwhelming or oppressive.

FAQs

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

"Had struggled through" indicates a past difficulty that was overcome. For example, "She "had struggled through" college while working two jobs."

What can I say instead of "had struggled through"?

You can use alternatives like "had battled through", "had persevered through", or "had overcome difficulties" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "had struggled through" or "has struggled through"?

"Had struggled through" refers to a completed action in the past, while "has struggled through" refers to something that started in the past and continues to the present. Choose the tense that matches the situation.

What's the difference between "had struggled through" and "had gone through"?

"Had struggled through" implies a difficult experience that was overcome, whereas "had gone through" simply means to have experienced something, without necessarily implying difficulty. You could say "She "had gone through" a lot of changes this year", but if those changes were hard, "She "had struggled through" those changes" becomes more appropriate.