had been absence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been absence" is not correct in English.
Did you mean "had been absent"? If this is the case, you can use it to describe a state of not being present in the past. Example: "He had been absent from the meeting due to a family emergency."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

If the inclusion criteria of this treatment trial had been absence of normal claws, the groups would have been more comparable at the start and hence the results easier to interpret.

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The main limiting factor for inclusion in the study has been absence at work shift on the day that the medical examination took place.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

He said there had been an absence of coordination & planning.

The New Yorker

The problem, though, had been an absence of run support.

The New York Times - Sports

Dickinson also noted there had been an "absence of remorse" from Ghumra.

The Guardian

Adani's own studies, conducted by consultants GHD in in 2014, acknowledged the best finch habitat was where there had been "an absence of grazing".

The Guardian - Business

It had been a long absence since his early-career work as a regulator.

The Washington Post

Government statisticians said the increase in overall absence rates had been driven by unauthorised absences, which went up from 1.1%to1.3%3% in the space of a year.

The Guardian

Fassel then recited the names of a few players who had been given excused absences from today's workout.

The New York Times - Sports

* Even before the strike, Hahn's role on the intergovernmental Metropolitan Transportation Authority board had been marked by absences and inattention.

Los Angeles Times

Someone had been there in his absence.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When intending to describe a past state of something missing, use grammatically correct phrases like "there had been a lack of" or "something had been missing" instead of "had been absence".

Common error

Avoid using the noun "absence" directly after "had been". Instead, use the adjective "absent" or rephrase the sentence to use a noun phrase like "a lack of" or "an absence of".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been absence" attempts to describe a past state of lacking something. However, it's grammatically incorrect as it uses the noun "absence" where an adjective or a different phrase construction is needed. As Ludwig AI explains, it is ungrammatical.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been absence" is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms its incorrect usage. While the intention is to express that something was missing in the past, it's essential to use correct grammatical structures such as "had been missing" or "there had been a lack of". When aiming for clarity and correctness, always prioritize accurate grammar and appropriate word choices. The register can vary from neutral in news media to formal in academic writing, but grammatical correctness remains crucial.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been missing

Replaces the noun "absence" with the adjective "missing", focusing on the state of being absent.

there had been a lack of

Replaces "absence" with "lack of" while maintaining the past perfect tense and indicating a deficiency.

had not been present

Emphasizes the non-existence or non-presence of something or someone.

there was an absence of

Shifts to a simpler past tense structure but still expresses the idea of something missing.

there had been no

Directly negates the existence of something, implying its absence.

had been a void

Uses "void" to describe the absence, highlighting the emptiness or lack.

had been without

Highlights the state of lacking something, emphasizing the absence.

had been a deficit of

Indicates a shortage or insufficiency, similar to an absence.

there had been a scarcity of

Emphasizes the limited availability or lack of something.

had been bereft of

Implies a loss or deprivation, similar to an absence but with a stronger emotional connotation.

FAQs

What is a correct way to use the word "absence" in a sentence?

You can use "absence" correctly by saying "there was an absence of evidence" or "his absence was noted". Ensure the sentence structure is grammatically sound.

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

Instead of "had been absence", you can use phrases like "had been missing", "there had been a lack of", or "there was an absence of".

Is "had been absence" grammatically correct?

No, "had been absence" is not grammatically correct. The correct form would often involve using "absent" (adjective) or rephrasing to use a noun phrase like "an absence of".

How to correct the phrase "had been absence" in a sentence?

To correct "had been absence", rephrase it to "he "had been absent"", or "there "had been a lack of" coordination" depending on the intended meaning.