had tried out

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had tried out" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone has tested or experimented with something in the past. Example: "Before deciding on the final design, she had tried out several different color schemes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

A former athlete, he had tried out for the 1964 Olympic hockey team.

The New York Times - Sports

Although she had tried out other names, by 1917 Schwob had adopted the pen name Claude Cahun.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Mears and Laugher had tried out their fifth dive only once before in competition.

The Guardian - Sport

"I kind of wish we had tried out after college," Curt said.

The New York Times - Sports

When Morrison was 17, she had tried out a thought experiment.

The Guardian - Books

They had tried out together in Vancouver last September (Palacio made the team, Jackson did not) and stayed friends.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

She has tried out acting.

Independent

I wish I would have tried out for a play.

The New York Times - Sports

No one would have tried out this approach.

The New York Times

I have tried out the machine at home.

The New York Times - Arts

Recently, Kerry has tried out some new lines.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had tried out" when you want to emphasize a past action of experimenting or testing something, especially when the outcome is relevant or being discussed.

Common error

Avoid using "had tried out" when referring to a current or future action. Ensure the context clearly indicates a past action that has already occurred.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had tried out" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect tense. It describes an action of experimenting or testing that was completed before another point in time, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had tried out" is a verb phrase in the past perfect tense used to describe a prior action of experimenting or testing. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and very common, particularly in News & Media contexts. When using it, ensure it accurately reflects a completed action before another point in the past. Alternatives include "had tested" or "had experimented with", depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had tested

Replaces "tried out" with a more direct term for evaluating performance.

had experimented with

Emphasizes the exploratory and experimental nature of the attempt.

had sampled

Suggests a brief or preliminary experience.

had attempted

Focuses on the effort made, regardless of the outcome.

had given a shot

Informal way of saying someone had tried something.

had assessed

Indicates an evaluation process.

had evaluated

Similar to assessed, but implies a more thorough examination.

had explored

Highlights the investigative aspect of the attempt.

had checked out

Informal way of indicating investigation.

had put to the test

Emphasizes the process of seeing how something performs under specific conditions.

FAQs

How can I use "had tried out" in a sentence?

Use "had tried out" to describe a past experience of testing or experimenting with something. For example, "She "had tried out" different recipes before settling on the perfect one".

What are some alternatives to "had tried out"?

You can use alternatives like "had tested", "had experimented with", or "had attempted" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "has tried out" instead of "had tried out"?

The choice between "has tried out" and "had tried out" depends on the context. "Has tried out" is present perfect tense, indicating an action that started in the past and continues to the present or has relevance to the present. "Had tried out" is past perfect tense, indicating an action completed before another point in the past.

What's the difference between "tried out" and "had tried out"?

"Tried out" is simple past tense, while ""had tried out"" is past perfect. Use ""had tried out"" to indicate that the action of trying out occurred before another action in the past. For instance, "She "had tried out" the software before she bought the full version".