had submitted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had submitted" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that an action of submission occurred before another past action or point in time. Example: "By the time the deadline arrived, she had submitted her application."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

He had submitted a memoir, too.

The New Yorker

He had submitted the painting a year earlier.

The New York Times

Twenty-four companies had submitted proposals.

The New York Times

John Jay said Thursday that he had submitted his resignation.

The New York Times

As of Tuesday afternoon, 20 artists had submitted images.

The New York Times - Arts

Some contributors had submitted film stills instead of words.

The New Yorker

I had submitted some opinion pieces to Gopusa.

The New York Times

The firm's name did not appear on the papers it had submitted in Alabama.

The New York Times

Genentech declined to state what new information it had submitted to the F.D.A.

The New York Times

So was I, although my interview, like the application I had submitted, was only for show.

The New York Times

He had submitted the question of school financing to the attorney-general, he said.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had submitted" to clearly indicate that the submission occurred before another action or a specific point in time. For example, "By the deadline, they had submitted all required documents."

Common error

Avoid using "had submitted" when the context only requires the simple past tense. For example, instead of "He had submitted the report yesterday", use "He submitted the report yesterday" if the timing is already clear.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had submitted" functions as the past perfect tense of the verb "submit". This indicates that an action of submission was completed before another point in time in the past. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

30%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had submitted" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that an action of submission occurred before another event in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is widely used in various contexts, particularly in news, science, and formal business settings. To ensure accuracy, remember to reserve "had submitted" for situations requiring the past perfect tense to avoid tense errors. Alternatives like "turned in", "filed", and "presented" can be used depending on the level of formality and the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

turned in

Replaces "submitted" with a more informal verb, implying a completed action of handing something in.

filed

Suggests a more formal and official submission, often used in legal or bureaucratic contexts.

presented

Implies a formal offering or display, often used in academic or professional settings.

lodged

Similar to "filed" but can also imply leaving something for safekeeping or record.

handed over

Emphasizes the physical act of transferring something to another party.

delivered

Focuses on the act of bringing something to a specific location or person.

provided

Highlights the act of making something available or accessible.

sent in

Indicates that something was dispatched or mailed for consideration.

offered

Suggests a voluntary act of presenting something for acceptance or consideration.

tendered

Implies a formal presentation, often used in business or legal contexts.

FAQs

How to use "had submitted" in a sentence?

Use "had submitted" to indicate that an action of submitting occurred before another action in the past. For example: "She "had submitted" her application before the deadline arrived".

What can I say instead of "had submitted"?

You can use alternatives like "turned in", "filed", or "presented" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "had submitted" or "submitted"?

Use ""had submitted"" to show that the action happened before another point in the past. Use "submitted" when describing a simple past action without reference to a prior event.

What's the difference between "had submitted" and "sent"?

"Had submitted" emphasizes a formal act of presenting something. "Sent" is more general and simply indicates that something was dispatched or transmitted.