had already been set

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had already been set" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was established or decided prior to a certain point in time. Example: "By the time the meeting started, the agenda had already been set, leaving no room for changes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"The narrative had already been set.

The New York Times

Land in Shanghai, he said, had already been set aside.

The New York Times

International principles for banking regulation had already been set out by the Basel Accord in 1988.

The Economist

Yet the forces that would undermine the game's cultural supremacy had already been set in motion.

The New York Times

Wider, Then Narrower Policy Meanwhile, another crucial chain of events had already been set in motion.

The New York Times

A year of menus based on those orders had already been set by Palmore.

The New York Times - Magazine

The pattern had already been set in smaller battles elsewhere in the country earlier this year.

The Guardian

"Obviously we set the budgets in April, so our priorities had already been set.

The Guardian

But it's interesting to note how firmly the tone had already been set in Bacall's day.

The Guardian - Opinion

In Berkeley, California, an organization claiming to be "the original Copwatch group" had already been set up in 1990.

The New York Times - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

The Beatles had already been setting trends in fashion, music, haircuts, and lifestyle since the early 1960s.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had already been set" to clearly indicate that a plan, rule, or expectation was established before a specific event or time. This emphasizes the pre-existing nature of the arrangement.

Common error

Avoid using "had already been set" when you need an active voice. For instance, instead of "The team had already been set by the coach", consider "The coach had already set the team" for a more direct and active sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had already been set" functions as a passive voice construction indicating that an action (setting) was completed before a certain point in time. It is used to convey that arrangements, plans, or conditions were pre-established, as evidenced by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Science

12%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

3%

Social Media

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had already been set" is a versatile and commonly used phrase in English that functions as a passive construction to indicate pre-established arrangements or conditions. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and appropriate for various contexts, particularly in news and media. When writing, use it to emphasize the timing and completion of a prior action influencing subsequent events. While interchangeable alternatives exist, "had already been established" or "had already been determined" can provide a more formal tone. Ensure you're using the passive voice correctly to avoid awkward phrasings. Overall, this phrase is a valuable tool for providing context and clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had already been established

Replaces "set" with "established", emphasizing the formal creation or recognition of something.

had already been determined

Substitutes "set" with "determined", highlighting a decision or conclusion that was previously reached.

had already been arranged

Uses "arranged" instead of "set", focusing on the planning or organization of something in advance.

had already been decided

Replaces "set" with "decided", emphasizing a choice or judgment made earlier.

had already been fixed

Uses "fixed" instead of "set", implying a firm and unchangeable arrangement.

was already in place

Offers a more concise alternative, indicating that something was already prepared or available.

had previously been agreed upon

Highlights a prior agreement or consensus regarding something.

had already been designated

Emphasizes that something was officially assigned or allocated beforehand.

had already been scheduled

Focuses on the prior arrangement of something in a timetable or agenda.

was already predetermined

Highlights that the course of events has been set beforehand. The implication is that the outcome cannot be changed.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "had already been set" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you can use alternatives like "had already been established" or "had already been determined". These options emphasize the official or decisive nature of the prior arrangement.

Is "had already been set" interchangeable with "was already set"?

While similar, "had already been set" implies a clearer sequence of events. It highlights that the setting occurred before another action or time. "Was already set" simply states a condition without emphasizing the sequence as much.

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

"Had already been set" implies an active decision or arrangement occurred in the past. "Was already in place" suggests a state of readiness or existence without necessarily implying a specific prior action.

Can I use "had already been set" to describe abstract concepts, or is it only for concrete objects?

You can use "had already been set" for both abstract concepts and concrete objects. For example, "The agenda had already been set" (abstract) or "The table had already been set" (concrete).