had written down

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had written down" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something was recorded or noted in the past before another event or time. Example: "She realized she had written down the wrong address for the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Afterward Sehgal reviewed the young contestants with his associates, each of whom had written down ratings.

The New York Times - Magazine

"It was one of a long list of names I had written down," he said.

The New Yorker

"You like some video?" Miranda opened up her Filofax where she had written down "Mottery Dixit".

The New Yorker

By day's end, they had written down the names of about 20.

The New York Times

The attendant had written down the details and had CCTV footage capturing the incident.

The Guardian - Money

From what the doctor said later, I'd realize that she had written down just one detail.

The New Yorker

St. Andrew's Church, I said, reciting what I had written down: near Poringland, just off the Yelverton Road.

The New Yorker

Getting a quick look at the blotter, he noticed that under "Occupation" the cop had written down "clerk".

The New Yorker

They were, on the contrary, details she had written down, details that would do very nicely for the next book.

The New York Times - Magazine

Earlier this year the BBC revealed it had written down the value of the business by £50m over five years.

The Guardian

If somebody had written down notes about it, if we had some memorial from the Colored Orphan Asylum.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had written down" when you want to emphasize that something was recorded in the past, especially before another event occurred.

Common error

Avoid using "had written down" if the writing and the event you're referencing happened in the present. Use "wrote down" or "has written down" instead, depending on the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had written down" functions as a past perfect verb phrase, indicating an action of recording something in writing that was completed before a specific point in the past. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. The examples in Ludwig demonstrate this usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had written down" is a versatile past perfect verb phrase that signifies a completed action of recording something before a specific time in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across a variety of contexts. While very common in News & Media, it also appears in scientific and formal business writing. When using the phrase, remember to ensure that the tense aligns with the sequence of events you're describing. Consider alternatives like ""had noted"" or ""had recorded"" to vary your language. By understanding its function and purpose, you can effectively incorporate "had written down" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had jotted down

Uses "jotted" suggesting a quick, informal note.

had noted

More general term for making a written record.

had documented

Implies a formal or official record.

had recorded

Broader term, could be audio or video as well as written.

had put in writing

More verbose way of saying something was written down.

had scribbled

Implies hurried, messy writing.

had inscribed

Suggests carving or engraving, less common.

had committed to paper

A more formal and literary way to express the same idea.

had transcribed

Means to copy something in writing.

had listed

Specifically refers to creating a list.

FAQs

How can I use "had written down" in a sentence?

The phrase "had written down" is used to indicate that something was recorded in writing before a specific point in time. For example, "She realized she "had written down" the wrong address."

What are some alternatives to "had written down"?

You can use alternatives like "had noted", "had recorded", or "had jotted down" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "has written down" instead of "had written down"?

The choice between "has written down" and "had written down" depends on the context. "Has written down" is present perfect, indicating an action completed at an unspecified time before now. "Had written down" is past perfect, indicating an action completed before another action in the past.

What's the difference between "wrote down" and "had written down"?

"Wrote down" is simple past tense, describing an action that happened and finished in the past. "Had written down" is past perfect, indicating that the writing occurred before another past event. For example, "She "wrote down" the phone number" vs. "She realized she "had written down" the wrong number after he left."