had yet started

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had yet started" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has not begun up to a certain point in time, often in a narrative or descriptive context. Example: "The meeting had yet started when I arrived, so I took a seat and waited."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

That no one else had yet started to eat didn't seem to bother her.

The New York Times

The Conservative-led council said no formal talks had yet started.

BBC

We're also discussing No Man's Sky – but please do note that at the time of recording, nobody had yet started playing it properly.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Today, our approaches for synthetic biology targeting the bio-inspired computing and robotics have yet started.

Communicative and Integrative Biology

To date, only baseline data are available for this cohort because no follow-up visits have yet started.

DMM Disease Models and Mechanisms

Two phase III trials in SLE are planned (NCT01205438 and NCT01196091), but neither has yet started recruiting patients.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

Rooney, then 17, had yet to start for England.

Independent

She had yet to start formally campaigning, but she was ready.

The New Yorker

Thirteen respondents (22percentt) had yet to start a review.

BMC Health Services Research

The OWN board had not yet started to search for a permanent chief to replace Ms. Norman.

The New York Times

Most children under 15, by contrast, have not yet started to have sex, so they are largely uninfected.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had yet started" to clearly indicate that an action or event was expected to happen but hadn't begun at a specific point in the past. This phrasing is useful for establishing a timeline or sequence of events in narratives and reports.

Common error

Avoid mixing tenses when using "had yet started". Ensure the rest of your sentence maintains the past perfect or past simple tense for clarity. For example, don't follow "had yet started" with a present tense verb.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had yet started" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect tense. It indicates that an action or event had not begun before a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had yet started" is a grammatically sound past perfect phrase that indicates an action or event had not begun before a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is usable in written English. While not exceedingly common, it appears in various contexts such as news, science, and formal writing. Its formality is generally neutral, but can be adjusted by choosing more or less formal alternatives. When using this phrase, ensure tense consistency to maintain clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had not begun

Replaces "started" with "begun", offering a slightly more formal tone.

had not started yet

Alters the word order, shifting the emphasis slightly.

had not commenced

Substitutes "started" with "commenced", increasing the formality of the phrase.

had not initiated

Replaces "started" with "initiated", giving a more technical or official feel.

had still to start

Changes the structure while maintaining the original meaning, emphasizing anticipation.

had not been launched

Substitutes with "launched", implying a more formal start or introduction.

was yet to begin

Uses a different verb tense and structure, slightly altering the emphasis.

had not got underway

Uses the idiom "got underway", which is less direct than "started".

had not kicked off

Employs the phrasal verb "kicked off" instead of "started", making it more informal.

had not materialized

Replaces with "materialized", indicating the event hadn't come into being or happened.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "had yet started" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using alternatives such as "had not commenced" or "had not initiated". These options provide a more elevated and professional feel.

What's a more casual way to say "had yet started"?

A more casual way to express the same idea is "had still to start" or "had not kicked off", the latter being even more informal.

Is there a difference between "had yet started" and "had not started yet"?

While both phrases convey the same meaning, "had yet started" emphasizes that something was expected but hadn't begun. "Had not started yet" simply states that something hadn't begun without the same sense of anticipation.

How to use "had yet started" in a sentence?

You can use "had yet started" to indicate that something hadn't begun at a specific time in the past, like: "The concert "had not begun" when we arrived at the venue."