had been collected

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been collected" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something was gathered or accumulated in the past before another event or time reference. Example: "The data had been collected prior to the analysis, ensuring accurate results."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Multiple collections were pooled until roughly 200 µl embryos had been collected for each sample.

eLife

The rubbish had been collected several days earlier.

The Guardian - Money

By yesterday afternoon, about $2,000 had been collected.

The New York Times

His sputum had been collected multiple times testing for tuberculosis.

The New York Times - Health

Some of it was information that had been collected much earlier," the mayor said.

The New York Times

It showed that $5.2 million had been collected, more than $2 million of it last year.

The New York Times

DNA had been collected from relatives in order to aid in identification.

The Guardian

By 6 p.m., $118,000 had been collected in front of Schnucks.

The New York Times

They then pooled and analysed the data that had been collected.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

spokesman, said that some samples had been collected away from shows.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Kim, the ministry spokesman, said no telltale air samples had been collected as of Wednesday.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been collected" to clearly establish that an action of gathering or accumulating occurred before another point in the past.

Common error

Avoid using "had been collected" when a simpler past tense like "was collected" suffices if the sequence of past actions isn't critical to the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been collected" functions as a past perfect passive construction. According to Ludwig, this construction indicates that an action of collecting occurred before another point in the past. It is used to establish a sequence of events, emphasizing that the collection was completed prior to a subsequent action or state.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been collected" is a grammatically correct and frequently used past perfect passive construction. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It serves to indicate that something was gathered or accumulated before a specific point in the past. Its usage spans various contexts, from scientific and news reporting to more formal business communications. While "was collected" might suffice in simpler contexts, "had been collected" adds precision when establishing a sequence of past events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were gathered

Uses a simple past passive form, which can be less formal than "had been collected".

were accumulated

Similar to 'amassed' but with a slightly less forceful connotation of quantity.

were amassed

Emphasizes a large quantity being accumulated.

were compiled

Suggests a systematic gathering of information or data.

were obtained

Focuses on the process of acquiring something, rather than simply gathering it.

were brought together

Highlights the act of combining separate items into a unified collection.

were assembled

Implies a structured or organized gathering.

were harvested

Implies a careful and deliberate gathering, often in a natural or agricultural context.

had accrued

Suggests a gradual accumulation over time.

were reaped

Suggests gathering as a result of previous actions, often in a metaphorical sense.

FAQs

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

Use "had been collected" to indicate that something was gathered or accumulated before a specific point in the past. For example, "The data "had been collected" before the analysis began".

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

"Was collected" describes a simple past action, while "had been collected" indicates that the collection occurred before another event in the past. The latter emphasizes the sequence of events.

Are there alternatives to "had been collected"?

Yes, depending on the context, you can use phrases like "were gathered", "were amassed", or "were compiled".

Is "had been collected" formal or informal?

"Had been collected" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, although simpler alternatives might be preferred in very informal settings.