had been augmented

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been augmented" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was increased or enhanced in the past, often in a context involving changes or improvements. Example: "The software had been augmented with new features to improve user experience."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

The emperor's distaste for his lot had been augmented by the arrival as governor of a British soldier, Sir Hudson Lowe, a narrow man who felt the task of detaining that great spirit of the age very heavily upon him.

The Guardian - Books

But if the day's purses had been augmented by an infusion of money from as many as 1,000 video lottery terminals inside the track's pavilion, well then, that would have been a horse of another color -- green.

The New York Times

The trumpets let out a piercing flubbed note in the first bar, and many misadventures followed; at times, it sounded as though a civic orchestra had been augmented by members of a high-school marching band.

The New Yorker

To meet the restaurant demand, traditional lime-stick trapping had been augmented by large-scale netting operations, and the Cypriot government, which was trying to clean up its act and win membership in the European Union, cracked down hard on the netters.

The New Yorker

Robinson's disturbing thesis was that the Old Boring (Coldplay, Leona Lewis) hadn't gone away but had been augmented by the New Boring in a pincer movement that threatened to squeeze the joie de vivre out of this already spiritually depleted nation.

The Guardian

Failure of augmentation of the tissue-engineered bone was more common after large areas had been augmented.

British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

And throughout the school, public money has been augmented with a heartening amount of corporate support.

The New York Times

Classical histology has been augmented by a variety of more discriminating techniques.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The chorus, on excellent form, has been augmented: there are bustling extras, dancers, even a few cute children.

The Guardian - Music

Its steep, jump-enabling roads have been augmented with toys such as car transporters that form mobile ramps.

The Guardian - Tech

And the films have been augmented by Q&As with their subjects, including Norman Foster, Steven Holl, Peter Eisenman and Biennale director David Chipperfield.

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been augmented" to describe a past action where something was intentionally increased or improved, often suggesting a planned enhancement.

Common error

Avoid using "had been augmented" when a simpler term like "increased" or "added to" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or pretentious. Check if the added complexity is really necessary for your purpose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been augmented" functions as a passive perfect construction, indicating that something experienced an increase or enhancement at a point in the past. As supported by Ludwig, it signifies a completed action with lasting effects, as seen in examples such as 'the squadron had been augmented by the new battlecruiser'.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Wiki

31%

Science

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been augmented" is a useful construction for describing past increases or enhancements. According to Ludwig, it carries a neutral to formal tone and is frequently found in news, scientific, and wiki sources. To avoid errors, be mindful of using simpler alternatives when appropriate. This phrase is considered grammatically correct, and can be helpful when you want to convey the specific action of past enhancement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been increased

Focuses specifically on numerical growth or quantity.

had been enhanced

Highlights the improvement or betterment of something.

had been supplemented

Suggests that something was added to complete or improve something else.

had been expanded

Emphasizes the broadening or extension of something.

had been enriched

Implies that something was made fuller or more meaningful.

had been extended

Focuses on increasing the scope or reach of something.

had been amplified

Suggests an increase in strength or intensity.

had been boosted

Indicates a sudden or significant increase.

had been reinforced

Implies the strengthening of something with additional support.

had been upgraded

Highlights the modernization or improvement to a higher standard.

FAQs

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

Use "had been augmented" to describe a situation where something was increased or enhanced in the past. For example, "The security measures had been augmented after the incident".

What are some alternatives to "had been augmented"?

You can use alternatives such as "had been increased", "had been enhanced", or "had been supplemented" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "had been augmented" instead of "was increased"?

"Had been augmented" implies a more deliberate and strategic increase or improvement, whereas "was increased" is a more general statement of numerical growth. Choose "had been augmented" when emphasizing the intentional nature of the enhancement.

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

"Had been augmented" refers to an action completed in the past, while "has been augmented" indicates an action that started in the past and continues to the present or has relevance to the present. For example, "The team's resources had been augmented last year" vs. "The team's resources has been augmented with new members this quarter".