had been announced

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been announced" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something was declared or made known in the past, often before another past event. Example: "The results of the competition had been announced before the ceremony began."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Nothing had been announced at press time.

The Washington Post

The closing had been announced only a day earlier.

The New York Times

Previously, lawmakers held their hearings after appointments had been announced.

The New York Times

All three had been announced for the show's Broadway production.

The New York Times

The six marathon runners had been announced earlier.

The Guardian - Sport

And that was before the official result had been announced.

The Guardian

By midday Monday, no arrests had been announced.

The New York Times

It had been announced less than 24 hours before.

The Guardian

The anonymous gift, which lent crucial financial support to Cornell's proposal, had been announced Dec. 16.

Cornell University

(The slotting of "New Girl" after the game had been announced).

The New York Times

As The Economist went to press, no decision had been announced.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been announced" to clearly establish that an event, decision, or piece of information was made public before another event occurred, ensuring chronological clarity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "was announced" when you need to emphasize that the announcement happened before another past event. "Was announced" does not always clearly convey the sequence of events.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been announced" functions as a past perfect passive construction. It indicates that an action (announcing) was completed before another point in the past. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Academia

18%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Science

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been announced" is a very common past perfect passive construction used to indicate that something was officially made public or communicated before another event in the past. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and versatility across various contexts, particularly in news, academic, and formal business settings. While neutral in register, it emphasizes chronological order and is best used when establishing a clear sequence of events. Remember to avoid using simpler past tenses when the specific order of events is important.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was previously announced

Focuses on the action of announcing in the past, emphasizing the timing.

was made public

Focuses on the information becoming accessible to the general public.

had been revealed

Suggests the information was previously secret and then made known.

had been disclosed

Implies a more formal or official release of information.

had been proclaimed

Suggests a formal and often public declaration.

was previously reported

Highlights that the information was shared in a formal report.

had been communicated

Emphasizes the act of conveying information, but not necessarily publicly.

had been shared

Highlights the act of disseminating information among people.

had been intimated

The suggestion or indication of something, typically in a subtle or indirect way.

was already known

Shifts the focus to the state of being known rather than the act of announcing.

FAQs

How do I use "had been announced" in a sentence?

Use "had been announced" to indicate that something was made public or officially declared at a time before a specific event in the past. For example, "The winner "had been announced" before the ceremony started."

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

Alternatives include "was previously announced", "had been revealed", or "was made public", depending on the context and the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "had been announced" or "was announced"?

"Had been announced" is used to indicate that something was announced before another event in the past, while "was announced" simply indicates that something was announced at some point in the past. The choice depends on the specific timeline you want to emphasize.

What’s the difference between "had been announced" and "had been declared"?

While both phrases indicate a past event, "had been declared" often implies a more formal or official pronouncement than "had been announced". The best choice depends on the specific context and the level of formality you wish to convey.