had been cleared

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been cleared" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something was removed or made free of obstacles or restrictions in the past. Example: "The area had been cleared of debris before the construction began."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The officers had been cleared.

The Guardian

Again, the room had been cleared.

The New York Times - Magazine

The rubble had been cleared away.

The New York Times

The restaurant had been cleared of patrons.

The New Yorker

A path had been cleared for them.

The New York Times - Arts

By last night, both had been cleared.

The New York Times

Not one new applicant had been cleared in time.

The Economist

Both transactions had been cleared swiftly in the United States.

The Economist

Hospital beds had been cleared in expectation of casualties.

Independent

The camp had been cleared of 'superfluous' persons".

The New Yorker

The authorities later said the scene had been cleared.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been cleared" to emphasize that an action of clearing or removing obstacles was completed before a specific point in the past. It is useful for establishing a sequence of events.

Common error

Avoid using "had been cleared" when a simpler past tense like "was cleared" is sufficient. Overusing the past perfect can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been cleared" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect passive voice. This construction indicates that an action of clearing was completed before a specific time in the past. Ludwig indicates that it's a valid English construction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

18%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been cleared" is a grammatically sound and frequently used past perfect passive construction that indicates something was cleared before a specific point in the past. As highlighted by Ludwig, this phrase is correct and applicable across various writing styles. It's most commonly found in news and media, but also appears in scientific and encyclopedic contexts. When using it, make sure the past perfect tense is necessary to show the sequence of events clearly. Alternative phrases like "had been removed" or "had been approved" may be more appropriate depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been removed

Focuses on the act of physical or metaphorical removal.

had been approved

Suggests a formal process of acceptance.

had been resolved

Indicates that an issue or problem has been settled.

was authorized

Indicates permission or approval was granted.

was acquitted

Specifically refers to being found not guilty in a legal context.

had been discharged

Often used in medical or military contexts to indicate release or completion of duty.

was sanctioned

Implies official permission or endorsement.

had been liberated

Implies freeing something or someone from control or oppression.

had been emptied

Highlights the act of making something devoid of contents.

had been evacuated

Emphasizes the removal of people from a dangerous area.

FAQs

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

Use "had been cleared" to indicate that something was cleared before another action occurred. For example, "The road "had been cleared" before the rescue team arrived" indicates the clearing happened first.

What's the difference between "was cleared" and "had been cleared"?

"Was cleared" describes an action completed in the past. "Had been cleared" indicates an action completed before another past action. For instance, "The table was cleared after dinner" vs "The table "had been cleared" before the guests arrived".

Which is correct, "had been cleared" or "was being cleared"?

"Had been cleared" indicates a completed action in the past, while "was being cleared" indicates an action in progress in the past. The choice depends on the intended meaning.

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

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "had been removed", "had been approved", or "had been resolved".