contract has been signed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "contract has been signed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that a formal agreement has been executed and is now in effect. Example: "We are pleased to inform you that the contract has been signed and the project will commence next week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

He is in talks with the broadcaster, though no contract has been signed.

The Guardian - Sport

Aspas will move to Anfield for €9m (£7.6m) once his contract has been signed.

The Guardian - Sport

He says a contract has been signed for the flu line.

The Guardian

No contract has been signed giving them permission to sell them.

The Guardian

A contract has been signed with a Belgian pharmaceutical concern to combat the problem.

The New York Times

Participation in the marketing agreement is voluntary, but once the contract has been signed, the rules must be followed.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

The contract had been signed by his mother.

The Guardian

By the time the contract had been signed (six years, $52 million), Boston had invested more than $100 million.

The New York Times - Sports

It was a legal maneuver, however, because no contract had been signed.

The New York Times - Sports

A contract had been signed for what is now a best-selling business book, "Leadership".

The Economist

Mr. Trezise said that while no contract had been signed, a banquet center was strongly interested.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When specifying the date, provide accurate and verifiable confirmation that the "contract has been signed".

Common error

Avoid announcing that a "contract has been signed" prematurely, before all parties have officially signed the document. Premature announcements can lead to legal complications or damage professional relationships.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "contract has been signed" functions as a declarative statement. Ludwig indicates its purpose is to communicate the completion of a formal agreement, making it legally binding.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "contract has been signed" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate that a formal agreement has been finalized and is now legally binding. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriateness in various contexts, primarily in news, business, and science. When using this phrase, ensure that the contract is indeed signed by all parties to avoid premature or inaccurate announcements. Alternative phrases like "agreement has been finalized" or "deal has been sealed" can be used depending on the desired level of formality. This phrase serves to clearly communicate the completion of a formal agreement and its entry into effect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

agreement has been finalized

Replaces "contract" with "agreement" and uses "finalized" to emphasize the completion of the agreement.

deal has been sealed

Uses more informal language, replacing "contract" with "deal" and "signed" with "sealed" to convey a sense of finality.

paperwork has been completed

Focuses on the completion of the necessary documentation, implying that the contract is now legally binding.

terms have been agreed upon

Highlights the mutual agreement on the contract terms, suggesting the signing is a formality.

agreement is now in effect

Emphasizes that the contract is active and enforceable, rather than focusing on the signing itself.

the deal is done

An informal way to say that the agreement has been signed, sealed, and delivered. Suitable for use in everyday conversation.

signatures are affixed

A more formal and technical way of saying that a contract has been signed.

parties are bound by contract

This emphasizes the legal obligation created by the contract, moving away from the act of signing.

the agreement is operative

A formal way of stating that the agreement is now active and enforceable.

the ink is dry on the contract

Uses figurative language to indicate the contract is finalized and cannot be changed.

FAQs

What does "contract has been signed" mean?

The phrase "contract has been signed" means that all parties involved in a formal agreement have officially signed the document, making it legally binding and enforceable.

Is it correct to say "the contract was signed" instead of "the contract has been signed"?

Both phrases are correct, but they have slightly different implications. "The contract was signed" refers to a specific point in the past. "The contract has been signed" implies that the signing has been completed and has current relevance or consequences.

What can I say instead of "contract has been signed"?

You can use alternatives like "agreement has been finalized", "deal has been sealed", or "paperwork has been completed" depending on the context.

What is the difference between "agreement in principle" and "contract has been signed"?

"Agreement in principle" means that parties have agreed on the main terms but haven't yet finalized a legally binding document. "Contract has been signed" means a formal, legally binding agreement is in place.