had been attained

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been attained" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something was achieved or reached at some point in the past, often in a context involving a process or progression. Example: "By the end of the project, the goals that had been attained were beyond our initial expectations."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

The removal efficiency of Cr VI) increased with a decrease in pH or with increases of temperature and contact time until equilibrium had been attained.

Desalination

According to race-specific 20th and 80th percentiles, early maturers were tallest at early ages and shortest after adult stature had been attained.

The Journal of Pediatrics

Italian war correspondents in Spain attributed these and other bombings to the Legionary Aviation based in Majorca, declaring that "all military objectives" had been attained.

The New York Times

Her ascent of the latter, at 18,406 feet (5,610 metres), was the highest point in the Western Hemisphere that had been attained by a woman.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Long rolls of clay were coiled in a circle, layer upon layer, until the approximate shape had been attained; the walls of the vessel were then finished by scraping and smoothing.

Britannica

Their young men had rolled into the South virtually unresisted, Seoul was captured in three days, then the Chinese were everywhere, Russian MiGs and their pilots had fallen from the sky, and exactly what had been attained?

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

If it had been attaining those kind of figures all year, ITV wouldn't be bringing a judicial review against the ITC.

The Guardian

Moscow might have been attained.

The New York Times - Books

He has been "attained in praemunire".

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Also noteworthy is how the victories have been attained.

The New York Times - Sports

With Mr. Bush, he said, he is unsure "how much has been attained because he's daddy's boy".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been attained" to clearly indicate that a goal, state, or condition was reached at some point in the past, especially when discussing a sequence of events or a process where completion is significant.

Common error

Avoid using "had been attained" when a simpler tense or active voice would be more direct and concise. For example, instead of "the summit had been attained by the team", consider "the team attained the summit".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been attained" functions as a past perfect passive construction. It indicates that an action or goal was completed before a specific point in the past. Ludwig's examples showcase its use across diverse fields, confirming its broad applicability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

71%

News & Media

17%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been attained" is a grammatically sound and commonly used past perfect passive construction. Ludwig AI confirms its frequent use in formal and scientific writing to denote the completion of an action or achievement before a specific point in the past. While alternatives like "had been achieved" or "had been reached" exist, "had been attained" remains a clear and effective choice for conveying past accomplishments, especially when emphasizing their relevance to subsequent events. Remember to use it accurately to maintain clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been achieved

Uses a synonym to replace "attained", keeping the meaning virtually identical but with a slightly different word choice.

had been reached

Substitutes "attained" with "reached", focusing on the completion of a journey or process to a destination.

had been accomplished

Replaces "attained" with "accomplished", emphasizing the successful completion of a task or goal.

had been realized

Uses "realized" in place of "attained", highlighting the manifestation or bringing into reality of something.

had been secured

Changes "attained" to "secured", suggesting that something has been firmly obtained and is now protected.

had been obtained

Replaces "attained" with "obtained", focusing on the acquisition or gaining of something.

had been fulfilled

Uses "fulfilled" instead of "attained", indicating that a requirement or condition has been met.

had been gained

Substitutes "attained" with "gained", emphasizing the effort or process involved in acquiring something.

had been procured

Changes "attained" to "procured", focusing on acquiring something, often through special effort or means.

had come to fruition

Replaces "had been attained" with a more idiomatic expression indicating successful development or completion.

FAQs

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

The phrase "had been attained" indicates that something was achieved or reached before a specific point in the past. For instance, "By the time the project concluded, all objectives "had been attained"."

What are some alternatives to "had been attained"?

You can use alternatives such as "had been achieved", "had been reached", or "had been accomplished" depending on the context.

When should I use "had been attained" versus "was attained"?

"Had been attained" (past perfect passive) indicates an action completed before another point in the past, while "was attained" (simple past passive) indicates an action completed in the past with no specific reference point. Example: "The goal "had been attained" before the deadline" vs. "The goal "was attained" last year."

Is there a difference between "had been attained" and "has been attained"?

"Had been attained" refers to something that occurred and was completed in the past relative to another past event. "Has been attained" indicates something that has been achieved in a time period leading up to the present. The former has two reference points in the past and the latter links to the present.