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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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had told beforehand

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had told beforehand" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone communicated information prior to a specific event or time. Example: "She had told beforehand that the meeting would be rescheduled, but many still showed up at the original time."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

"But if I had told them beforehand, nobody would have played along".

If someone had told me beforehand that I was going to run that fast, I would have been happy".

If someone had told me beforehand that it would have gone like this, I would not have believed them.

Ralph Thompson had told me beforehand that Stòras Uibhist's attorneys were confident they would prevail, but, even so, the scope of the ruling surprised him.

News & Media

The New Yorker

I had told her beforehand that wine tasted overly strong to me, and she had told me that it did to her, too.

News & Media

The New Yorker

He had told me beforehand that the dinners had led to television opportunities and venture capitalists offering him blank checks, but that so far he's turned everything down.

News & Media

The New York Times

If someone had told Lewullis beforehand that his 13th-seeded Ivy League champions would upset the Bruins – one of the most storied programs in college basketball history and winners of the previous year's tournament – he might have not believed them.

The player had told us beforehand that he would, but then chose not to do so.

News & Media

BBC

He said: "I would have been happy if you had told me beforehand I would get 2.25 and it was a good competition with Allan and Ray Bobrownicki (third in 2.20m).

News & Media

BBC

My Australian friends had told me beforehand that I was lucky landing an internship here because there was beach as long as the eye could see and many, many sunny days ahead.

I was 45 when I got that first job running a business school — I wish someone had told me beforehand that this is part of what "leading" and motivating people is about.

News & Media

Forbes
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had told beforehand" to clearly indicate that information was communicated prior to a specific event or time. This helps establish a timeline of events for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using other redundant adverbs or phrases that reiterate the 'beforehand' aspect. For instance, "had told previously beforehand" is unnecessarily repetitive.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

60%

Authority and reliability

3.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had told beforehand" functions as a past perfect construction with an adverbial modifier. It indicates that the act of telling occurred before a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

0%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had told beforehand" is a grammatically sound way to express that information was communicated in advance of a specific event. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, its usage is not very common, and no perfect match was found in the analyzed data. When writing, ensure you're not being redundant with other time-related adverbs. Some effective alternatives include "had informed previously", "had notified in advance", and "had warned ahead of time", offering nuanced ways to convey prior communication.

FAQs

How can I use "had told beforehand" in a sentence?

You can use "had told beforehand" to indicate that someone communicated information before a specific event. For example, "She "had told beforehand" that the meeting would be rescheduled, but many still showed up at the original time."

What are some alternatives to saying "had told beforehand"?

Some alternatives include "had informed previously", "had notified in advance", or "had warned ahead of time", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "had told beforehand"?

Yes, "had told beforehand" is grammatically correct. It is used to convey that information was communicated prior to a particular event or time.

What's the difference between "had told beforehand" and "told beforehand"?

"Had told beforehand" is in the past perfect tense, indicating an action completed before another point in the past. "Told beforehand" (without "had") is grammatically incomplete and less common. Use "had told beforehand" when emphasizing the prior communication in relation to another past event.

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Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: