had been checks

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been checks" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to describe a past state involving checks, but it lacks proper grammatical structure and context. Example: "There had been checks on the project budget before the final approval."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Mr Kelly asked if there had been checks for "microscopic fibres" on the tyres of the vehicle.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

When everything else had been checked, you "had a look" at the timer.

The New Yorker

She added: "What I knew was that Gareth's email accounts had been checked, but I didn't know that other media had been checked".

The Guardian

Mrs May has since told the BBC that her speech had been checked for accuracy.

BBC

All competitors had been checked before the race according to its classification handbook, the organisation says.

BBC

The subjects' actual health had been checked by medical questioning.

Plosone

Moreover, nearly every lymph nodal group had been checked.

BMC Cancer

Prior to analysis the assumptions of McNemar's Chi-square and t-tests had been checked.

BMC Pediatrics

School records of each participant had been checked during childhood for this diagnostic information.

Brain

First, not all patients had been checked for aminotransferase level during the first 6 months.

BMC Infectious Diseases

The reference lists of pertinent reviews and retrieved articles had been checked for additional study identification.

BMC Gastroenterology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more precise and grammatically standard alternatives like "were there checks", "had checks been performed", or "had inspections been done" for clarity.

Common error

The phrase "had been checks" can be unclear. Ensure your sentence clearly indicates what was being checked and why, or rephrase using more common grammatical structures.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been checks" functions as an elliptical or incomplete clause, where the subject and auxiliary verb are implied, suggesting a question or statement about past verifications. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

53%

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been checks" is grammatically questionable and rarely used, according to Ludwig AI. While it appears mostly in news and scientific contexts, it's better to use clearer alternatives such as "were there checks", "had checks been performed", or "were checks conducted". These alternatives offer better clarity and grammatical correctness. When writing, aim for more precise language to avoid ambiguity. The phrase is neither formal nor informal and has a neutral register. Always consider using more appropriate synonyms based on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were there checks

Focuses on the existence of checks at a certain point in time, similar to questioning the presence of checks.

were checks conducted

Emphasizes the act of conducting checks, highlighting the process rather than just the existence.

were inspections performed

Replaces "checks" with "inspections", changing the specific term while keeping the action's focus.

had inspections been done

Rephrases the sentence to emphasize completion using the past perfect passive voice, focusing on the result of the inspections.

had evaluations taken place

Substitutes "checks" with "evaluations", shifting the emphasis to a more formal assessment.

were there any controls

Replaces the term "checks" with "controls", broadening the scope to any kind of regulation or oversight.

had any verification steps occurred

Emphasizes the concept of verifying something, highlighting the confirmation aspect of checks.

were audits performed

Uses "audits" instead of "checks", indicating a more formal and systematic examination.

had due diligence been exercised

Focuses on the concept of due diligence, implying a thorough investigation or check.

were there any safeguards in place

Shifts the focus to the presence of protective measures or safeguards, rather than specific checks.

FAQs

What is a more grammatically correct way to phrase "had been checks"?

More grammatically sound alternatives include "were there checks?", "had checks been performed?", or "were checks conducted?". The best choice depends on the specific context you intend to convey.

What does "had been checks" imply in a sentence?

The phrase "had been checks" suggests that some form of verification or inspection occurred at some point in the past. However, the phrasing is uncommon and may require rephrasing for better clarity.

How can I use "were there checks" /s/were+there+checks in a sentence?

You can use "were there checks" to inquire about the existence of a checking process. For example: "Were there checks in place to prevent fraud?"

Is "had been checks" formal or informal?

Due to its uncommon and somewhat awkward phrasing, "had been checks" is neither particularly formal nor informal, but it's best to avoid it in formal writing. Opt for clearer and more standard alternatives instead.