had been administered

USAGE SUMMARY

"had been administered" is correct and usable in written English.
This is a past perfect verb tense which is used to describe events that occurred before a different event in the past. You can use it when you are describing a situation that happened before something else occurred and the sequence of the events is unclear. For example: "The test had been administered before the results were revealed."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nobody slept yesterday unless an anaesthetic had been administered.

The Guardian - Sport

It said no rape kit had been administered.

The New York Times

Antibiotics had been administered in recent weeks for infections that caused his condition to deteriorate.

The Guardian

Later I would learn that the coup de grâce had been administered by a puppy.

The New York Times

Docilely, he was doing the promotional rounds, as if he had been administered a massive sedative.

The Guardian - Opinion

Sudan's justice ministry said it would investigate whether the punishment had been administered properly.

The Guardian

A single intratracheal instillation (3U/Kg BW) of BLM had been administered in fibrosis induced groups.

Biomedicine & Preventive Nutrition

Earlier this week Weiss said that Dougherty had been administered a CT scan before doctors cleared him to return.

The New York Times - Sports

These were shadows caused by substances - notably Prussian blue - which had been administered during his treatment, the hospital said.

The Guardian

An earlier statement said the patriarch had been administered antibiotics and that doctors were "closely monitoring his condition".

The Guardian

In addition, products that had not been shipped would be quarantined until the inoculation had been administered.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been administered" to highlight that an action was completed before another point in the past, creating a sequence of events in your narrative.

Common error

Avoid using "had been administered" when a simpler past tense ("was administered") suffices. Overusing the past perfect can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been administered" functions as a past perfect passive construction. It indicates that an action of administering something was completed before a specific point in the past. Ludwig examples confirm its use in describing completed actions in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

51%

News & Media

43%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been administered" is a grammatically sound and frequently used past perfect passive phrase. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across a broad range of contexts, especially in science, news, and formal settings. Its primary function is to indicate that an action was completed before another event in the past, which is crucial for establishing a clear timeline. While versatile, it is important to avoid overuse and ensure the context justifies the past perfect tense. By considering related phrases like "was given" and being mindful of potential errors, you can effectively incorporate "had been administered" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was given

Replaces the passive voice construction with a simpler active voice, focusing on the act of giving.

was provided

Emphasizes the act of supplying or making something available, instead of the formal process of administering.

was applied

Focuses on the act of applying something, useful when referring to treatments or procedures.

was performed

Highlights the action of carrying out a procedure or task, often in a medical or formal setting.

was executed

Implies a formal and often precise carrying out of a plan or order.

had been implemented

Shifts focus to the process of putting a plan or system into effect.

had been issued

Highlights the formal release or distribution of something, like a document or order.

had been supplied

Emphasizes the action of furnishing or providing something needed or wanted.

had been delivered

Focuses on the act of bringing something to a specific place or person.

had been furnished

Suggests providing something necessary, often in a legal or formal context.

FAQs

How is "had been administered" used in a sentence?

The phrase "had been administered" indicates that something was given or applied before a specific time in the past. For example, "The medication "had been administered" before the patient showed any symptoms."

What are some alternatives to "had been administered"?

You can use alternatives such as "was given", "was provided", or "was applied" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "was administered" instead of "had been administered"?

It depends on the context. "Was administered" is simple past tense and describes an action completed in the past. "Had been administered" is past perfect and describes an action completed before another point in the past. Use the latter to emphasize sequence.

What's the difference between "is administered" and "had been administered"?

"Is administered" is present tense, indicating a current or habitual action, while "had been administered" is past perfect, indicating a completed action before a specific time in the past.