had been commenced

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been commenced" is grammatically correct but somewhat awkward in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to indicate that an action was started in the past and is relevant to a later point in time. Example: "The project had been commenced before the funding was approved, which caused delays."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

Irving told Jackson proceedings had been commenced against the union for failing to file returns on donations.

The Guardian

Formerly, 28 U.S.C. §1477 authorized a court either to transfer or retain a case which had been commenced in a district where venue was improper.

Cornell University

Since the serious financial crimes taskforce was established in May 2015 more than 650 compliance activities had been commenced or completed, raising more than $130m.

The Guardian

After describing in detail the relevant Australian laws (although she noted that no tort cases had been commenced over climate change impacts as of yet), Green then gave a brief summary of other possibly relevant statutes for other nations.

Columbia University

28 On the other hand, the petitioner contends that the 1949 Regulations remained applicable to his case, since he was not advised of the existence of the 1951 Regulations until after his discharge had been accomplished and the present court proceedings had been commenced.

Cornell University

L. 112 63 effective upon the expiration of the 30-day period beginning on Dec. 7, 2011, and applicable to any action commenced in a United States district court on or after such effective date, and to any action removed from a State court to a United States district court that had been commenced, within the meaning of State law, on or after such effective date, see section 205 of Pub.

Cornell University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

That a proceeding to partition the parcel of land by sale has been commenced.

Cornell University

Policy Statement No. 780 set forth “notification” procedures for whenever “professional practice litigation against [petitioner] or any of its personnel has been commenced, has been threatened or is judged likely to occur, or when governmental or professional investigations that may involve [petitioner] or any of its personnel have been commenced or are judged likely.” Id., at JA—29 to JA—30. 5.

Cornell University

"If she had reported it in May, an investigation would have been commenced several weeks before it actually was commenced," said the commissioner, Richard J. Condon.

The New York Times

The mere fact that an investigation has been commenced does not mean that it is probable that a claim will be asserted or that, if it is, there is a reasonable possibility that the outcome will be unfavorable.

Harvard University

In a short statement, the palace said: "St James's Palace confirms that legal proceedings for breach of privacy have been commenced today in France by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge against the publishers of Closer Magazine France".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been commenced" in formal writing when you want to emphasize the passive nature of the action and its completion before another point in time. However, consider more common alternatives for better clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "had been commenced" when an active voice construction would be clearer and more direct. Over-reliance on passive voice can make your writing sound convoluted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been commenced" functions as a past perfect passive construction, indicating an action that began and finished before another point in the past. Ludwig AI notes it may sound awkward, but is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

47%

Academia

33%

News & Media

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been commenced" is a grammatically correct but somewhat formal and less common way to express that an action was started and completed before another point in the past. Ludwig AI points out its potential awkwardness in modern English. While examples show its use in academic, scientific, and news contexts, simpler alternatives like "had been started" or "had begun" are often preferred for clarity and conciseness. It is important to consider the level of formality required for your specific writing context to determine if "had been commenced" is the most appropriate choice. The phrase is most frequently encountered in scientific and academic publications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been started

Replaces "commenced" with a more common and less formal synonym.

had been initiated

Emphasizes the beginning or launch of something, similar to "commenced".

had been begun

Uses the past participle of "begin", offering a slightly different stylistic choice.

had started

A more concise and direct way to express the action's beginning.

was initiated

Shifts the tense slightly to simple past passive, which can be more appropriate in some contexts.

was started

A simple past passive alternative, emphasizing the commencement of an action.

had come into effect

Focuses on the action of becoming operational or enforceable.

had been undertaken

Highlights the action of taking on or committing to something.

had been instituted

Emphasizes the formal establishment or introduction of something.

had been triggered

Highlights a cause-and-effect relationship where something sparked the start of an action.

FAQs

What does "had been commenced" mean?

The phrase "had been commenced" indicates that an action or process was started at some point in the past and completed before a subsequent point in the past. It's the past perfect passive form of "commence".

When is it appropriate to use "had been commenced"?

It is appropriate in formal contexts when you want to emphasize that an action was started and completed before another action in the past. However, simpler alternatives like "had been started" are often preferred for clarity.

What are some alternatives to "had been commenced"?

Alternatives include "had been started", "had been initiated", or "had begun". The best choice depends on the specific context and the level of formality required.

Is "had been commenced" too formal for everyday writing?

Yes, "had been commenced" can sound overly formal or stilted in everyday writing. Simpler and more direct alternatives like "was started" or "had started" are generally preferred in less formal contexts.