had already been

USAGE SUMMARY

'had already been' is correct and usable in written English.
This phrase is used to indicate that something happened in the past before something else happened. Example: She had already been accepted into the university before she received the scholarship.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Most had already been withdrawn.

Independent

All had already been recalled.

The New York Times

It had already been published.

The New Yorker

Movies had already been displaced.

The New York Times

They had already been shipped.

The New York Times

Perhaps he had already been released.

The New Yorker

But the damage had already been done.

The New York Times

General McChrystal had already been there twice.

The New York Times - Magazine

But the dogs had already been eaten.

The New Yorker

(Two stars had already been let go).

The New Yorker

Some of that had already been stolen.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had already been" to clearly establish the sequence of events in the past, ensuring that the earlier action is fully completed before the subsequent one begins.

Common error

Avoid using "had already been" when a simple past tense is sufficient. Overusing the past perfect can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex. For example, instead of "The report had already been submitted when the deadline arrived", consider "The report was already submitted when the deadline arrived" if the sequence is clear.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had already been" functions as the past perfect progressive tense, indicating an action or state that was in progress and completed before another point in the past. This use is supported by Ludwig, which provides numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

22%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had already been" is a grammatically sound phrase used to denote an action completed before another point in the past. Ludwig confirms its wide usage across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and scientific writing. While versatile, it's essential to avoid overuse and ensure clarity in establishing the sequence of events. Remembering this is useful for improving the precision and clarity of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was already done

Focuses on the completion of an action or task.

had previously occurred

Emphasizes the prior occurrence of an event.

had already taken place

States that an event has already occurred, often used in formal contexts.

had been completed

Highlights the finished state of something.

was already finalized

Emphasizes that a decision or action has been officially completed.

had transpired already

Highlights that an event has already taken place or happened.

had earlier transpired

Similar to "had transpired already" but places more emphasis on the timing.

had happened before

A more straightforward way of saying something occurred prior to another event.

had come to pass

Suggests that something has happened or been fulfilled.

had been effected

This alternative is more formal, appropriate for legal or official contexts.

FAQs

How can I use "had already been" in a sentence?

Use "had already been" to show that an action was completed before another action in the past. For example, "She "had already been accepted" into the university before she received the scholarship".

What's the difference between "had already been" and "was already"?

"Had already been" indicates an action completed before another point in the past, while "was already" simply describes a state at a past time. For example, "The food "had already been served" when we arrived" versus "The food "was already cold" when we arrived".

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

You can use alternatives like "had previously occurred", "was already done", or "had taken place" depending on the context.

When is it incorrect to use "had already been"?

It's incorrect to use "had already been" if you're not referring to two points in the past. If you're only describing a single past event, use the simple past tense instead. Do not use "had already been" if the action it refers to continues into the present.