had suggested that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had suggested that" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a past suggestion or recommendation made by someone. For example, "My professor had suggested that I choose an easier topic for my research paper."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Somebody had suggested that name," he said.

The New York Times

President Obama had suggested that was the trajectory of the Russian intervention.

The Washington Post

In recent weeks, however, senior officials had suggested that situation was changing.

Los Angeles Times

Scientists had suggested that she look there.

The New Yorker

No one had suggested that he posed a security problem.

The Guardian

Dr. Bhalla had suggested that Mr. Wilson walk for exercise.

The New York Times

Mr. Pedram had suggested that polygamy was unfair to women.

The New York Times

Cranston had suggested that Stan drag Joe aside.

The New Yorker

Someone had suggested that her nose was a little red.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

(Intelligence had suggested that Mehsud would be among the mourners).

The New Yorker

Polls had suggested that both men would win.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had suggested that" to clearly indicate that a suggestion or recommendation occurred before a specific point in the past. This helps establish a sequence of events and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "had suggested that" when referring to a suggestion that is still current or relevant. In such cases, use "suggests that" or "has suggested that" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had suggested that" functions as a verb phrase introducing a subordinate clause, indicating a suggestion or recommendation made in the past, prior to another action or time. Ludwig AI confirms its usability through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had suggested that" is a grammatically sound phrase used to denote a past suggestion preceding another event. As confirmed by Ludwig AI and its numerous real-world examples, its usage is common across diverse sources like news media, scientific publications, and academic writing. While alternatives such as "recommended previously that" exist, "had suggested that" offers a clear and direct way to indicate the timing of a past suggestion. To avoid errors, ensure the suggestion truly precedes another past event and adjust the tense if the suggestion remains current.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

once suggested that

Indicates a suggestion made at some point in the past, without specifying when.

previously recommended

Shorter, more direct version focusing on the past recommendation itself.

at one point proposed that

Similar to "once suggested that" but emphasizes the idea being put forth.

recommended previously that

Emphasizes the act of recommending, indicating a formal suggestion made in the past.

had advised earlier that

Combines advice with a specific timeframe of earlier.

previously proposed that

Highlights the act of putting forward an idea or plan in the past.

earlier advised that

Focuses on guidance or counsel given in the past.

intimated in the past that

Indicates a subtle or indirect suggestion made at an earlier time.

hinted before that

Emphasizes an indirect suggestion from the past.

had posited that

Implies a more formal and theoretical suggestion or assumption made in the past.

FAQs

How can I use "had suggested that" in a sentence?

Use "had suggested that" to indicate a past suggestion or recommendation that occurred before another point in time. For example, "The doctor "had suggested that" I exercise more, but I didn't listen until my health declined."

What are some alternatives to "had suggested that"?

Alternatives include "recommended previously that", "previously proposed that", or "earlier advised that", depending on the context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "suggested that" instead of "had suggested that"?

While "suggested that" can be correct, "had suggested that" is more appropriate when emphasizing that the suggestion occurred before another event in the past. Using "had suggested that" makes the sequence of events clearer.

What is the difference between "suggested that" and "had suggested that"?

"Suggested that" generally refers to a suggestion made at some point in the past. "Had suggested that" specifies that the suggestion was made and completed before another event also in the past, creating a pluperfect tense for clarity.