had been apportioned

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been apportioned" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something has been divided or distributed among different parties or groups in the past. Example: "The resources had been apportioned fairly among all the departments before the project began."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

They went down to the cafeteria and wondered which alcoves had been apportioned among the Trotskyites, Stalinists and other left-wing devotees during the 1930s -- the hangouts of future intellectual heavyweights like Irving Howe, Daniel Bell, Irving Kristol and Nathan Glazer, who gobbled up their tuna fish sandwiches while they "argued the world".

The New York Times

In the aftermath of the disaster, blame had been apportioned to the fans by both the South Yorkshire police and The Sun newspaper (in 2012, it admitted what it called its "gravest error" and remains the subject of a Merseyside boycott today).

Vice

However, even in the nurse-led intervention arm, a third of participants with SMI had not taken up a blood test by the end of the six month intervention and only a third had been apportioned a 10 year Framingham risk score.

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The $700 million pot was created after New York officials complained that the city, a past target for terrorists, was being shortchanged because Washington had been apportioning security aid to cities by using a formula that did not take into account vulnerabilities.

The New York Times

Today, the families are overjoyed that at last blame has been apportioned where it belongs.

The Guardian - Opinion

In the current year, the levy has been apportioned at a flat rate, according to the scheme's membership.

The Economist

The peculiarity is the way that that growth has been apportioned hasn't really brought the benefits to the West that perhaps were expected.

The New York Times

The blame for the débâcle has been apportioned to various people in a bitter row that continues even to this day.

Independent

I've recently been working with the magnificent @HeatherLeatt who has been apportioned with the task of training all of our teaching staff through the new Ofsted framework.

The Guardian

Much blame has been apportioned to lax research regulations that serve only the hubris of those seeking the next big cure, a system that enabled Wakefield.

The Guardian - Opinion

Some lawmakers, fearing the wrath of constituents, are planning lotteries for the 200 to 400 tickets that each has been apportioned.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been apportioned" when you want to emphasize that a division or allocation was completed at a point in the past, and the results of that division are still relevant.

Common error

Avoid using "had been apportioned" when describing a future or ongoing allocation. Use "will be apportioned" or "is being apportioned" instead, depending on the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been apportioned" functions as the past perfect passive voice of the verb "apportion". It indicates that an action of dividing and allocating something was completed before a specific point in the past, as Ludwig AI confirms. For instance, blame or responsibility.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been apportioned" is a grammatically correct phrase used to indicate that something was divided or allocated before a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It's most commonly found in news and media as well as scientific writing, exhibiting a neutral to formal register. While not as frequent as simpler alternatives like "was apportioned" or "had been allocated", using "had been apportioned" helps emphasize the completion of the action in relation to another past event. When writing, ensure you're using the correct tense and are describing a past allocation rather than a future one.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been allocated

Uses a different verb ("allocate") to express a similar meaning of assigning or distributing something.

had been allotted

Similar to "allocated", but often used in the context of resources or time.

had been assigned

Employs "assigned" instead of "apportioned", suggesting a more specific or designated allocation.

had been distributed

Replaces "apportioned" with "distributed", indicating a broader, less precise division.

had been divided

Similar to "distributed", but implies a possibly equal or proportional split.

had been shared

Suggests a more collaborative or cooperative distribution, where multiple parties benefit.

had been granted

Focuses on the act of giving or awarding something, rather than a proportional division.

had been designated

Implies that something was specifically chosen and set aside for a particular purpose.

had been measured out

This implies careful and precise division, as if measured physically.

had been dispensed

Focuses on the act of giving out or providing something, often in a controlled manner.

FAQs

What does "had been apportioned" mean?

The phrase "had been apportioned" signifies that something was divided and distributed at a time before a specific point in the past. It emphasizes the completion of the allocation process.

When should I use "had been apportioned" instead of "was apportioned"?

"Had been apportioned" indicates that the apportioning occurred before a particular time in the past. "Was apportioned" simply states that the apportioning happened in the past without specifying its relation to another past event. If you want to emphasize that something else happened after the apportioning, "had been apportioned" is more appropriate.

What are some alternatives to "had been apportioned"?

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

Is "had been apportioned" formal or informal?

The phrase "had been apportioned" is generally considered formal and is suitable for academic, professional, and news contexts. It's less common in casual conversation.