had again been

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had again been" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has occurred repeatedly in the past, often in a narrative or descriptive context. Example: "After several attempts, it was clear that the project had again been delayed due to unforeseen circumstances."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Meanwhile, in 1918, he had again been elected to Congress.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Pressure had again been exerted from the usual quarters.

The New Yorker

Bent's confinement to the bench had again been a puzzle, given Bowery's inexperience.

Independent

By the late 1960s, however, most of these writers had again been silenced.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It is now no secret that the greatest pressure had again been used at Cettinje.

The New York Times

Data analyzed on Wednesday by the government Bureau of Meteorology indicated that national heat records had again been set.

The New York Times

The captain said he had called the headquarters as Vann had asked, and had again been ordered to stay put.

The New Yorker

At the airport we discovered that our flight had again been cancelled and no alternatives were available that day.

The Guardian - Money

Once I got back from the hospital there had again been certain things I needed to do.

The New York Times - Magazine

In December, it was announced, with little fanfare, that three of those profiles had been completed and tested, and the results had again been negative.

The New Yorker

But Pakistan's foreign minister complained that an American drone attack in North Waziristan that day had again been undertaken without consultation.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had again been" to clearly indicate that an event or situation has occurred more than once in the past, providing context for understanding the sequence of events.

Common error

Avoid using "had again been" excessively in simple narratives where the repetition is already clear. Simpler phrasing might be more effective. For instance, instead of "The problem had again been ignored", consider "The problem was ignored again."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had again been" functions as part of the past perfect passive voice. It indicates that something was done repeatedly to someone or something before a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had again been" is a grammatically sound and frequently used construction in English. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and serviceable in various contexts. Analysis of numerous examples reveals that it is primarily employed in News & Media, Wiki, and Encyclopedias. It functions as a part of the past perfect passive voice, emphasizing that an action or state recurred before a certain time in the past. While generally neutral in register, it adds crucial context by highlighting the repeated nature of the event. Alternatives such as "had once more been" and "had repeatedly been" offer subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had once more been

Replaces "again" with "once more", emphasizing the repetition of the event.

had repeatedly been

Substitutes "again" with "repeatedly", stressing the frequency of occurrence.

had been once again

Reorders the phrase slightly, maintaining the same core meaning.

had been repeatedly

Simplifies the structure, focusing on the repeated nature of the action.

had been a second time

Specifies that the event occurred for the second time.

had been yet again

Emphasizes frustration or surprise at the repeated occurrence.

had been one more time

Highlights that the action has been done/occurred an additional time.

had been anew

Emphasizes that something starts again.

had been afresh

Similar to 'anew', but can imply a renewed vigor or perspective.

had been retried

Suggests something was tried for another time.

FAQs

How do I use "had again been" in a sentence?

Use "had again been" to indicate that something occurred repeatedly in the past. For example: "The project "had again been" delayed due to unforeseen circumstances."

What can I say instead of "had again been"?

You can use alternatives like "had once more been", "had repeatedly been", or "had been once again" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "had been again" instead of "had again been"?

While "had been again" might be understood, ""had again been"" is the more standard and grammatically accepted phrasing.

What's the difference between "had again been" and "had always been"?

"Had again been" indicates a repeated occurrence, while "had always been" suggests a continuous state from the past until now. The first one is an action or event that happened multiple times while the second one is a characteristic or attribute that existed constantly over a period.