had been advised

USAGE SUMMARY

"had been advised" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is the past perfect passive form of the verb "advise" and is used to talk about something that happened before a specific time or event in the past. Example: She had been advised to take a break from work before her stress levels got out of control.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

I had been advised about Schilling's ambitions.

The New Yorker

Perhaps she had been advised to project unalloyed confidence.

The New Yorker

He had been advised to "learn first and empathize later".

The New York Times - Science

But I had been advised to steer clear of some of Larapinta's precincts.

The Economist

In January, however, a Rodriguez representative denied that the player had been advised by Bosch.

The New York Times - Sports

Demps had been advised by league officials that he was free to trade Paul.

The New York Times - Sports

The caliph, who had been advised against escaping by his vizier, offered to negotiate.

The New Yorker

The first lady's foreign guests had been advised to wear "farm-appropriate clothing".

The New York Times

Williams said that she had been advised that she could incur long-term damage by playing.

The New York Times - Sports

The Tongans gently remind him he had been advised to sleep with his feet covered.

The New York Times

I had been advised of the circumstance by an official of the Pageant.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been advised", ensure the context clearly identifies who provided the advice and what the advice was.

Common error

Avoid using "had been advised" when the action of advising is recent or ongoing. Use "has been advised" or "is being advised" instead to indicate a more immediate or current situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been advised" functions as a past perfect passive construction. It indicates that someone received advice before a specific point in the past. Ludwig examples showcase its use in various contexts like news, science, and general writing. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

36%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Huffington Post

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been advised" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to indicate that someone received guidance before a specific point in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a past perfect passive construction. This phrase is frequently found in news and media, as well as scientific writing, signaling its broad applicability. To enhance clarity, always specify who provided the advice and what it entailed. When aiming for simplicity, consider alternatives like "was told" or "received guidance". Understanding these nuances ensures effective communication across diverse contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

received guidance

Focuses on the reception of guidance, rather than the act of advising.

was instructed

Emphasizes the directive nature of the advice, suggesting a clear instruction was given.

was given direction

Highlights the aspect of being guided towards a specific path or action.

was counseled

Suggests a more personal and supportive form of advice.

was apprised of

A more formal and less common way to say someone was informed.

was given recommendations

Highlights that suggestions were provided, focusing on the helpful intent.

was informed

Implies the reception of information, which may or may not include a recommendation.

sought counsel

Changes the focus to the action of seeking advice, rather than receiving it.

was told

A more informal way of saying someone received advice or information.

was alerted

Suggests a warning or important piece of information was conveyed.

FAQs

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

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "was counseled", "was instructed", or "was apprised of", depending on the specific context.

Is "had been advised" the same as "was advised"?

"Had been advised" indicates that the advice occurred before a specific point in the past, while "was advised" simply indicates advice was given at some point in the past. The former establishes a clearer sequence of events.

What's a simpler way to say "had been advised"?

You can use simpler alternatives like "was told" or "received guidance", depending on the context. The simpler options are suitable for less formal situations.

Can "had been advised" be used in the active voice?

Yes, the active voice equivalent would be something like "someone had advised [him/her/them]". Using the active voice can make the sentence more direct but may shift the focus from the receiver of the advice to the giver.