after having been

USAGE SUMMARY

"after having been" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to indicate something that occurred in the past, after a process or event. For example: After having been on the list for ten years, the property was finally sold.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Several geysers erupted after having been quiet for years.

The New York Times - Science

There are those who, even after having been rescued, do not seem grateful.

The New York Times

"The Company Men" puts us down on the ground after having been up in the air.

The New York Times

They start building the house after having been in the States a while.

The New York Times

WHY might "Zero Dark Thirty" have "fizzled" after having been considered "a leading best picture contender"?

The New York Times

He was paroled in June in Vermont after having been convicted of possessing a controlled substance.

The New York Times

It also contends that Israeli soldiers most likely fired only after having been fired upon first.

The New York Times

He also won a Guggenheim fellowship, after having been turned down twice.

The New Yorker

Gregor had disappeared in World War II, after having been a bright student of agriculture.

The New Yorker

The city was rebuilt after having been largely destroyed by floods in 1903.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Strobogrammatic numbers read the same after having been rotated through 180°; e.g., 69, 96, 1001.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "after having been" to clearly indicate a sequence where an action or state concludes before another begins, ensuring a precise chronological relationship in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "after having been" unnecessarily when a simpler active voice construction would be more direct and engaging. Sometimes, rewriting the sentence to focus on who or what performed the action leads to a more impactful statement.

Linguistic Context

"After having been" functions as a prepositional phrase that introduces a clause specifying a prior action or state. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is considered correct and usable in written English. It sets up a chronological sequence where the initial state directly influences the subsequent event, providing temporal context.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

22%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "after having been" is a grammatically sound and commonly used construction for establishing a clear sequence of events, with the completed initial action directly influencing the subsequent event. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's a correct and usable phrase in written English. While it appears frequently in various contexts, it is especially prevalent in news and scientific writing. When writing, use this phrase to emphasize the chronological relationship between two events, being aware that a simpler active voice might sometimes provide a more direct alternative. The authoritative sources such as The New York Times, The New Yorker, and Encyclopedia Britannica exemplify its consistent use across reputable platforms.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

following being

This alternative simplifies the structure, replacing the perfect participle with a gerund phrase.

subsequent to being

This option provides a more formal tone, emphasizing the chronological order of events.

once it has been

This rephrasing focuses on the completion of an action before the subsequent event.

after it was

This uses a simpler past tense structure, making it less formal.

after the state of being

This clarifies by explicitly stating 'the state of being', but is less concise.

post being

This option offers a concise, slightly more modern way of expressing the same sequence.

following the condition of being

This adds emphasis on the condition or state that precedes the subsequent event.

in the wake of being

This suggests the subsequent event is a direct consequence of the prior state.

after undergoing

This emphasizes the process or experience that precedes the subsequent event, altering the semantic load by pointing to the undergoing as a more active moment.

on having been

This alternative subtly shifts the temporal focus, emphasizing the moment of possession or experience.

FAQs

How can I use "after having been" in a sentence?

Use "after having been" to show that something happened following a previous state or action. For example, "The city was rebuilt "after having been largely destroyed" by floods".

What's a more concise way to say "after having been"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "following being" or "subsequent to being" for a shorter version. However, ensure the meaning remains clear.

When is it best to use "after having been" instead of a simpler past tense?

Use "after having been" when you want to emphasize the completion of a prior action and its direct relevance to the subsequent event. It adds a layer of detail that a simple past tense might miss.

Is "after being" the same as "after having been"?

While similar, "after having been" emphasizes the completed nature of the initial action before the second action occurs. "After being" is a more general statement and doesn't necessarily highlight the completion as strongly.