have previously acknowledged

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have previously acknowledged" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that has been recognized or accepted in the past. Example: "In our last meeting, we have previously acknowledged the importance of teamwork in achieving our goals."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

Army researchers have previously acknowledged making wet anthrax, but Dr. Rosenberg said the acknowledgment yesterday by Dugway officials that they had produced dried anthrax was the government's only such disclosure.

The New York Times

Coles, the BBC director of operations, said: "As we have previously acknowledged, the BBC got this one wrong.

The Guardian

documents show that the practice is in much wider use — with far looser safeguards — than officials have previously acknowledged.

The New York Times

Indeed, the American military's assistance in the operation that killed Mr. Sabaya was considerably greater than Philippine and American officials have previously acknowledged.

The New York Times

Parts of the files have emerged in other lawsuits, and officials with the Boy Scouts, based in Irving, Tex., have previously acknowledged concealing some abuse.

The New York Times

Montgomery's lawyers have previously acknowledged receiving a letter from the agency but have denied that Montgomery is guilty of any wrongdoing and point out that he has never failed a doping test administered by Olympic or track officials.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

Mr. Simon has previously acknowledged this link.

The New York Times - Books

Strauss-Kahn's New York attorneys had previously acknowledged that talks had taken place.

The Guardian

Federated had previously acknowledged that employees had processed trades after hours for one hedge fund, Veras Partners.

The New York Times

Public confidence has eroded further because the bishops had previously acknowledged sexual abuse and resigned.

The New York Times

The Gulf state had previously acknowledged only that its air force took part in Nato-led attacks.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have previously acknowledged" to clearly indicate that a fact, situation, or statement was recognized or admitted at an earlier point. This avoids ambiguity about the timing of the acknowledgment.

Common error

Be careful not to use "have previously acknowledged" when you mean "have previously agreed". Acknowledging something means recognizing its existence or truth, while agreeing means expressing the same opinion or accepting a proposal. They are not interchangeable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have previously acknowledged" functions as a verbal phrase used to indicate that someone or something has recognized, admitted, or accepted something as true or existing at an earlier point in time. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriate usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Science

24%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "have previously acknowledged" is a versatile verbal phrase that indicates prior recognition or admission. Ludwig AI analysis confirms that it is grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts, including news, science, and business. While suitable for formal writing, it maintains a neutral register that makes it accessible in broader communication. Related phrases such as "previously recognized" or "already admitted" can serve as alternatives, depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previously recognized

A more concise phrasing, omitting "have" for a slightly different emphasis; changes verb structure.

had earlier recognized

Emphasizes an earlier point in time when the recognition occurred; changes the verb tense.

have already admitted

Focuses on the act of admitting something, rather than acknowledging; uses "already" for emphasis.

had before recognized

Changes the order of the words, but preserves the original meaning.

have formerly conceded

Implies a more formal admission or concession; replaces "acknowledged" with "conceded".

have in the past admitted

Adds emphasis on the past nature of the admission; inserts "in the past".

were earlier aware of

Shifts focus to awareness instead of explicit acknowledgment; uses a different verb construction.

have once confessed

Suggests a stronger admission, like a confession; changes the verb to "confessed".

earlier communicated

Focuses on the act of communication rather than acknowledgment.

already knew

Simplifies the expression to indicate prior knowledge, rather than acknowledgement.

FAQs

How can I use "have previously acknowledged" in a sentence?

You can use "have previously acknowledged" to indicate that something was recognized or admitted before. For example, "The company "has previously acknowledged" the issue and is working to resolve it".

What's a good alternative to "have previously acknowledged"?

Alternatives include "previously recognized", "already admitted", or "had earlier recognized", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "has previously acknowledged"?

Yes, "has previously acknowledged" is grammatically correct when the subject is singular. For example, "He "has previously acknowledged" his mistake".

What's the difference between "have previously acknowledged" and "have recently acknowledged"?

"Have previously acknowledged" refers to something recognized or admitted at some point in the past, while "have recently acknowledged" indicates that the recognition or admission occurred in the near past. The difference lies in the timeframe.