had been characterised

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been characterised" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in the past perfect tense to describe a state or quality that was attributed to something before a certain point in time. Example: "The project had been characterised by a lack of communication, which ultimately led to its failure."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

Simon Rubinsohn, chief economist at Rics, said 2016 had been "characterised by the stamp duty change" in April.

The Guardian - Money

Jack Dromey, shadow minister for policing, said the byelection had been "characterised by costly chaos and a record low turnout".

The Guardian

How strange she had been characterised as a street-smart girl yet was unable to resist Mr Kidder's advances.

The Guardian - Books

Paying respect to the teamwork of those involved, Woods stressed that the project had been characterised by a lack of ego on Gehry's part.

The Guardian - Arts

Ted Cantle's independent review concluded these towns had been characterised by communities divided along ethnic lines, living a "series of parallel lives".

The Guardian - Opinion

But it had been characterised by his remarkable ability to play himself out of trouble, to bounce back from his bogeys.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

Fundraising attempts have been characterised by failure.

The Guardian

"Throughout, this matter has been characterised by delay and muddle.

The Guardian - Business

Rather, his leadership has been characterised by compromise.

The Economist

It is ridiculous that three months of talks have been characterised by brinkmanship on both sides.

The Guardian - Business

Team Sky's success has been characterised by meticulous attention to detail.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been characterised" when you want to emphasize that a certain description or attribution was established or prevalent at some point in the past, but may no longer be accurate or relevant.

Common error

Avoid using "had been characterised" when the simple past tense ("was characterised") is sufficient. The past perfect tense should be used when referring to an action completed before another past action. For example it's preferable to say "The period was characterised by X", rather than "The period had been characterised by X" if there are not other past actions to refer to.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been characterised" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect passive voice. It indicates that something was described or defined in a certain way at a point preceding another point in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s a standard construction.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

41%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had been characterised" is a grammatically correct and common construction in the past perfect passive voice. As Ludwig AI confirms, it serves to describe how something was perceived or defined prior to a specific point in the past. Predominantly found in news, media and scientific contexts, it offers historical context and background information. When writing, it's important to ensure accurate tense usage and provide clear context. Alternatives include "had been described as" or "had been identified as", depending on the intended nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been described as

Focuses on the act of describing rather than the attribution of qualities.

had been identified as

Emphasizes recognition or classification of something.

had been known as

Highlights a familiar or established designation.

was previously characterised as

Uses a simple past tense passive construction instead of past perfect.

had been labeled as

Conveys the act of assigning a label or category.

had been designated as

Suggests a more official or formal assignment.

had been considered as

Indicates a prior evaluation or assessment.

had been regarded as

Implies a specific viewpoint or opinion held.

was characterised by

Changes to an active voice construction, focusing on the subject's attributes.

featured

Uses a verb to describe the main attribute

FAQs

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

"Had been characterised" is used to describe something that was defined or described in a particular way before a specific time in the past. For example, "The project "had been characterised" by delays, which led to its eventual cancellation".

What are some alternatives to "had been characterised"?

Alternatives include "had been described as", "had been identified as", or "had been labeled as", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "was characterised" instead of "had been characterised"?

Both are grammatically correct, but they have different meanings. "Was characterised" describes something in the past, while "had been characterised" describes something that was characterised before another point in the past. Use "was characterised" when you are simply describing something in the past, and ""had been characterised"" when you are referring to something that was characterised before another past event.

What is the difference between "characterised by" and "had been characterised by"?

"Characterised by" describes a current or general characteristic. "Had been characterised by" describes a characteristic that existed at some point in the past, especially before another event in the past.