had been agreed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been agreed" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to refer to an agreement that was reached at a point in the past, and has remained unchanged since then. Example: The terms of the contract had been agreed upon several weeks ago and had not been modified since.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Everything had been agreed".

The Guardian - Sport

This was not what had been agreed.

The Guardian - Opinion

(In 1972 only an interim freeze had been agreed upon).

Encyclopedia Britannica

"But it didn't happen the way it had been agreed.

The New Yorker

An hour later a price had been agreed: $100,000.

The Guardian - Sport

MediaGuardian.co.uk reported on Friday that a deal had been agreed.

The Guardian

Coded language had been agreed upon in advance.

The New York Times

DR. SAUTER: But you do not know whether it had been agreed upon?

Yale University

The paper describes the implementation process and the performance evaluation metrics that had been agreed upon with the management.

Decision Support Systems

The participants of this study clearly called for nutrition labeling on college menus and a prototype design had been agreed.

Appetite

It had been agreed to make use in the workshop of the philosophy and methods of the Strategic Choice Approach.

European Journal of Operational Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been agreed", ensure that the context clearly indicates who agreed and what they agreed upon. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "had been agreed" without specifying the subject or the details of the agreement. For example, instead of "It had been agreed", specify "The terms had been agreed by both parties" to provide better context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been agreed" functions as a passive perfect construction, indicating that an agreement was reached at some point in the past and its effects or conditions are still relevant. The examples from Ludwig illustrate how it's used to describe arrangements, deals, and conditions that were previously settled.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been agreed" is a versatile and widely used phrase to indicate a past agreement with ongoing relevance. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and appears frequently in news, academic, and scientific contexts. When using this phrase, it's essential to provide clear context about who agreed and what the agreement entailed. While alternatives like "was agreed" or "had been decided" exist, they offer subtle differences in meaning and emphasis. By understanding these nuances, writers can effectively convey the intended message with precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was agreed

Omits the auxiliary "had been", resulting in a simpler past tense construction. The meaning remains largely the same, but the emphasis on the completion of the agreement in the past is slightly reduced.

was mutually agreed

Adds emphasis to the mutual nature of the agreement; both parties were in accord.

had been decided

Replaces "agreed" with "decided", focusing on the decision-making process rather than the mutual consensus.

had been determined

Similar to "had been decided", but implies a more formal or objective determination of the agreement.

had been arranged

Suggests that preparations or logistics were put in place following the agreement.

was consented to

More formal, emphasizing permission and acceptance of the agreement.

had been settled

Focuses on resolving any disputes or uncertainties to reach a final agreement.

had been established

Emphasizes that the agreement is now a firm and recognized fact.

had been stipulated

Implies that the terms were specifically laid out and required in the agreement.

had been contracted

Suggests a formal, legally binding agreement was made.

FAQs

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

You can use "had been agreed" to indicate that an agreement was reached in the past and remains valid. For example, "The payment schedule "had been agreed" before the project started".

What are some alternatives to "had been agreed"?

Alternatives include "was agreed", "had been decided", or "was mutually agreed", each offering a slightly different emphasis.

Is it correct to say "has been agreed" instead of "had been agreed"?

While "has been agreed" is grammatically correct, it implies the agreement was reached more recently and is relevant to the present. "Had been agreed" indicates the agreement occurred further in the past and its effects are still relevant.

What is the difference between "had been agreed" and "was agreed"?

"Was agreed" indicates a simple past action of agreeing. "Had been agreed" implies a past perfect action, emphasizing that the agreement was completed before another point in the past and has continuing relevance.