had an impact vs had had an impact

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Had an impact' is used to talk about a single past event that had an effect, while 'had had an impact' is used when referring to a past event that occurred before another past event. The choice between the two depends on the timeline of the events being discussed.

Last updated: March 31, 2024

had an impact

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to describe a single past event that had an effect.

This phrase is used to talk about the influence or effect of a single past event. It is commonly used in both spoken and written English.

Examples:

The new policy had an impact on the company's profits.
His words had an impact on her decision.

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All of these activities will have had an impact on the prevention of diabetes.
These decisions have had an impact at Community level with the adoption of several documents.
This, of course, had an impact on the trade flow of the product concerned.
Following provisional measures, another party suggested that the elimination of import quotas would have had an impact on Union producers during the period considered.
It decided to maintain its prices, but the consequences on the sales volume had an impact on the profitability, which turned negative after 1996.
You've had an impact on this world.
Almost every aspect of human communication's been changed, and of course that's had an impact on deception.
Secondly, they definitely had an impact on the perception which the markets and economic operators had of France Télécom's situation in December.
Regarding different production processes and different cost structures, the parties did not explain how this could have had an impact on the conclusion that smoked and non-smoked products were a single product.
In addition, those limitations have not had an impact on the overall attractiveness of the Union market as it remains among the biggest ones in the world in terms of consumption.
(2a) The evolving and constantly changing digital economy has had an impact on the effectiveness of the current legislative framework of measures and instruments for the protection of intellectual property rights, in particular in relation to online infringements.
As regards the investments made by the Union industry, this party did not explain to what extent these investments could have had an impact on their profitability.
The Commission Work Programme for 2011 does not reflect adequately the significant events which have had an impact on Europe since 2008, or the hopes and expectations of Europe's citizens either.
Immigration is a reality which has already had an impact on the European agenda; this impact will become even greater as it affects certain very sensitive aspects of our project.
Though you are not a member of our committee, you have still had an impact on our committee and helped us to reach a compromise.
Advertising prohibition has had an impact.
This has had an impact on consumption and therefore on growth.
I'm pleased my words had an impact on you.
You had an impact on me.
Luckily, that never had an impact on him.

Alternatives:

made an impact
had an effect
influenced

had had an impact

This phrase is correct and is used when referring to a past event that occurred before another past event.

'Had had an impact' is used to describe a past event that had an effect on another past event. It indicates a sequence of events in the past.