had been allocated

USAGE SUMMARY

'had been allocated' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that happened in the past and has been decided or assigned. For example: The tasks had been allocated to each team member before the meeting.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Two hundred thousand dollars had been allocated for the buybacks.

The New York Times

By late 2011, though, all possible addresses had been allocated.

The Economist

Sixty-nine had been allocated to nonclosure of the peritoneum and 75 to closure.

European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology

By 1995 or so, we had filled all the space we had been allocated.

MIT Technology Review

They added that additional money had been allocated to high schools over the last two weeks.

The New York Times

He also confirmed that, "on security grounds", Mrs Blair had been allocated a government car.

The Guardian

But he also stated that no budget had been allocated in 2015 for improvements.

The Guardian

Until now, only around £18m had been allocated to FGM by donors.

The Guardian

Like many other youths sent to the countryside, Mr. Xi had been allocated corn flour rations.

The New York Times

Yet the meeting lasted longer than the 30-minute slot Mr Tsipras had been allocated.

The Economist

Only half of the city's sports budget, $3.7 million, had been allocated.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been allocated" when you want to emphasize that a decision about resource or task distribution was made in the past and is now a settled matter.

Common error

Avoid using "has been allocated" when the allocation happened and concluded in the past. "Has been allocated" implies the allocation is recent or ongoing, while "had been allocated" clearly places the action in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been allocated" functions as a passive past perfect construction, indicating that an action of allocation was completed before a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms this is correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Science

47%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been allocated" is a grammatically sound and very common phrase used to indicate that something was assigned or designated before a specific point in the past. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It is most frequently found in News & Media and Science contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that the tense aligns with the intended meaning and context, differentiating it from similar phrases like "has been allocated". Alternatives include "had been assigned" or "had been earmarked", each carrying slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been assigned

Focuses more on the act of assigning a task or role specifically.

had been designated

Implies a more formal or official assignment for a particular purpose.

had been earmarked

Specifically indicates that something has been set aside, usually money or resources.

had been allotted

Similar to allocated, but often implies a specific quantity or portion.

had been granted

Suggests a more formal approval or permission in the assigning process.

had been distributed

Indicates that something was given out among a group.

had been provided

Emphasizes the act of supplying or making something available.

had been reserved

Suggests that something was kept for a specific purpose or person.

had been apportioned

Focuses on dividing something and assigning it in specific shares.

had been dispensed

Suggests a controlled or measured distribution of something.

FAQs

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

Use "had been allocated" to indicate that something was assigned or designated at a point in the past before another past action. For example, "The funds "had been allocated" before the project started".

What's the difference between "had been allocated" and "has been allocated"?

"Had been allocated" refers to a completed action in the past, while "has been allocated" indicates an action completed more recently or with ongoing relevance to the present. The former establishes a past-before-past sequence, the latter a present perfect state.

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

You can use alternatives like "had been assigned", "had been designated", or "had been earmarked" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "the resources have been allocated" instead of "had been allocated"?

It depends on the timeline. If you're referring to a past event in relation to another past event, use ""had been allocated"". If the allocation is recent and relevant to the present, "have been allocated" is appropriate.