had been commissioned

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been commissioned" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone or something was officially assigned a task or project in the past. Example: "The artist had been commissioned to create a mural for the new community center."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He had been commissioned to produce 24.

The Guardian - Books

The piece had been commissioned by the Crucible theatre, Sheffield.

The Guardian

Recently, Zhang had been commissioned to write a piece for Marshall's Beijing New Music Ensemble.

The New Yorker

Or that Georgia O'Keefe had been commissioned to paint one of its murals.

The New York Times

Murals had been commissioned from local artists: scenes of mountain wildflowers, rearing bears.

The New Yorker

Between rehearsals for "Romeo," Morris made two other pieces, which had been commissioned long before.

The New Yorker

Donatello had been commissioned to do not only the statue but the niche and its framework.

Encyclopedia Britannica

That work had been commissioned by the Brooklyn Institute, the forerunner of today's Brooklyn Museum.

The New York Times - Arts

On his voyage home he wrote "America's Germany", which had been commissioned by Random House.

The New York Times

Darch had been commissioned by the Football Supporters' Federation to research safe standing in 2011.

The Guardian - Sport

While we were filming, they announced the show had been commissioned for 12 episodes.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been commissioned", ensure the context clearly identifies what was commissioned and by whom, either explicitly or implicitly, to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "had been commissioned" when the actor is more important than the action. In such cases, a more direct active voice construction provides better clarity, for example, writing 'The museum commissioned the artist' instead of 'The artist "had been commissioned" by the museum'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been commissioned" functions as a passive perfect construction, indicating that an action of commissioning took place before a specific point in the past. It is used to emphasize the result of the action rather than the actor, aligning with examples Ludwig provides across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

18%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Science

4%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been commissioned" is a grammatically correct and frequently used passive perfect construction. Ludwig AI validates its proper usage across diverse sources. This phrase emphasizes the completion of the commissioning action in the past and is particularly useful when the action itself is more relevant than the commissioning entity. Its register is typically neutral to professional, making it suitable for formal reports, news articles, and informative content. The phrase is most commonly found in news and media, as well as in encyclopedic and wiki entries.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was assigned

Replaces the passive voice with a more direct verb, but retains the meaning of being given a task.

was tasked

Similar to "was assigned", emphasizing the duty or responsibility given.

was appointed

Focuses on the formal selection for a specific role or duty.

was authorized

Highlights the granting of permission or power to do something.

was requested

Emphasizes that something was asked for, often implying a formal request.

was charged with

Implies a specific responsibility or duty has been given.

was delegated

Highlights the act of entrusting a task or responsibility to someone.

was contracted to

Focuses on a formal agreement or contract to perform a service.

received the order to

Indicates a direct instruction or command was given.

was given the green light

Informal expression meaning permission or approval was granted to start something.

FAQs

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

You can use "had been commissioned" to indicate that someone was officially instructed to do something. For example, "The sculptor "had been commissioned" to create a statue for the town square."

What are some alternatives to "had been commissioned"?

Alternatives include "was assigned", "was tasked", or "was appointed", depending on the specific context you want to convey.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "had been commissioned"?

The passive voice is appropriate when the action is more important than the actor. If the actor is crucial, use the active voice. For example, instead of "The study "had been commissioned" by the government", consider "The government commissioned the study."

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

"Had been commissioned" indicates a completed action in the past, often with implications for a subsequent state. "Was commissioned" simply describes the act of commissioning at a point in the past. For instance, "The report "had been commissioned" last year, and the findings were recently published" implies a completed process, while "The report was commissioned last year" simply states when the commissioning occurred.