had been cancelled

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "had been cancelled" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when something has been canceled in the past. For example, "The soccer game had been cancelled due to rain."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Training had been cancelled.

The Guardian - Sport

Most religious services had been cancelled, too.

The New Yorker

By six o'clock, Harvard classes had been cancelled.

The New Yorker

Later, however, she said the performance had been cancelled.

The Guardian

By the second day, the event had been cancelled altogether.

Independent

The meeting with the crime boss had been cancelled.

The New Yorker

(Three additional shows had been cancelled, for lack of audience).

The New Yorker

But it feels almost as though it had been cancelled.

The New Yorker

The questions were about why the show had been cancelled.

The New Yorker

Gatwick said a total of 28 flights had been cancelled.

The Guardian

Once that particular flight had been cancelled, that was it.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been cancelled", ensure the context clearly indicates the reason for cancellation to avoid ambiguity. For example, "The meeting had been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances" provides a clearer understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "had been cancelled" when referring to a current or future cancellation. Use "is cancelled" or "has been cancelled" instead. "The event is cancelled" or "The event has been cancelled" are appropriate for present or recent cancellations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been cancelled" functions as a past perfect passive construction. According to Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and widely used. It describes an action that was completed (cancelled) before another point in the past.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had been cancelled" is a grammatically sound and commonly used past perfect passive construction, as confirmed by Ludwig. It serves to indicate that something was cancelled before another point in the past. Its usage is prevalent in news and media, wiki articles, and formal business contexts. Remember to use this phrase when referring to a past action that occurred before another event in the past, and avoid using it for current or future cancellations. For similar meanings, you can consider using alternative phrases like "was called off" or "was terminated" depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was called off

Replaces the passive voice construction with a more direct phrasal verb; slightly more informal.

was terminated

Emphasizes a formal end or conclusion; suitable for official contexts.

was aborted

Implies that the action was stopped before completion.

was rescinded

Indicates a formal withdrawal or revocation of something.

was revoked

Suggests that permission or authorization was officially taken back.

was invalidated

Means something was declared void or without legal force.

was nullified

Highlights that something was rendered without effect or consequence.

was suspended

Implies a temporary stoppage with the possibility of resumption.

was postponed

Means the event was delayed to a later time or date.

was abandoned

Indicates that something was given up or deserted completely.

FAQs

How to use "had been cancelled" in a sentence?

"Had been cancelled" is used to describe an event or action that was cancelled in the past. For example, "The flight "had been cancelled" due to bad weather".

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

You can use alternatives like "was called off", "was terminated", or "was postponed" depending on the context.

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

"Had been cancelled" indicates a past perfect passive construction, used when discussing an event cancelled before another point in the past. "Was cancelled" is simple past passive. The choice depends on the context and the timeline you're establishing.

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

"Had been cancelled" refers to something cancelled in the past before another past event. "Has been cancelled" refers to something recently cancelled, with relevance to the present. For example, "The train had been cancelled before we even arrived at the station", versus "The train has been cancelled, so we need to find another way home".