I had often heard vs I'd often heard

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "I had often heard" is the past perfect tense, indicating an action that occurred before another past action. "I'd often heard" is the contraction of "I had often heard" and is more commonly used in informal speech or writing.

Last updated: March 19, 2024 • 3905 views

This phrase is correct and is used in the past perfect tense to indicate an action that occurred before another past action.

"I had often heard "

This phrase is used when you want to talk about something you frequently heard in the past, before another past event.

Examples:

I had often heard about the legendary treasure before I went on the adventure.
She had often heard the song on the radio before she learned the lyrics.
He had often heard his grandmother's stories when he was a child.

Show examples from the web [+]

3 Behold, I went to hunt beasts in the forests; and the words which I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints, sunk deep into my heart. 4 And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and ...
I had often heard the song before, and always with lively delight; for Bessie had a sweet voice, — at least, I thought so. But now, though her voice was still sweet, I found in its melody an indescribable sadness. Sometimes, preoccupied with her ...
I had often heard him play a grand piano, changing its sound by plucking and muting the strings with fingers and hands. I particularly loved to hear him play The Banshee. To do this, Henry Cowell first depressed the pedal with a wedge at the ...
He had never asked a question of grandmother, or uncle Phillip, and I had often heard him chime in with other children, when they spoke of my being at the north. I told him I was now really going to the Free States, and if he was a good, honest ...

Alternatives:

I frequently heard
I had heard many times
I used to hear often
I had been told frequently
I was accustomed to hearing

This phrase is correct and is a contraction of "I had often heard." It is more commonly used in informal speech or writing.

"I'd often heard "

This phrase is used in casual conversations or informal writing to express something you frequently heard in the past.

Examples:

I'd often heard that it was a great place to visit.
She'd often heard the story from her grandparents.
He'd often heard the sound of the waves crashing against the shore.

Show examples from the web [+]

As an enormous Rolling Stones fan, I'd often heard and read about Keith Richards' friendship with a guy named Gram Parsons. He'd been in The Byrds, then left on Keith's advice, and started The Flying Burrito Brothers. He's credited with ...
Sep 3, 2015 ... I'd often heard or seen things on your station that I didn't love—but never felt the need to ban you. That changed today, while driving my daughter to theater camp. I admit, I was sort of lost in my own thoughts. My daughter and I ...
Though I'd often heard it said of him that he read nothing written after 1950, he remembered the names of the patients I'd mentioned and inquired as to their condition, and more than once he expressed his admiration for the surgeons. Later he ...
I'd often heard folks say it was. The toy shop of the nation. Chorus: I'm a roving Jack of all trades. Of every trade and all trades. And if you want to know my name. They call me Jack of all trades. Twas in the Bull Ring first I went. There I became ...

Alternatives:

I had often heard
I frequently heard
I used to hear often
I had been told frequently
I was accustomed to hearing

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I had often heard vs I'd often heard

"I had often heard "

"I'd often heard "

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