had been compiled

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been compiled" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something was gathered or assembled in the past before another event or time. Example: "The report had been compiled over several months, incorporating data from various sources."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The data had been compiled over the previous decade.

The Guardian

The list had been compiled by a private contractor for the State of Florida.

The New York Times

Much of it reads as though it had been compiled from newspaper archives.

The New York Times - Books

More than 10,500 people voted, choosing from a shortlist of games that had been compiled by the awards judges.

Independent

Negroponte, soon to be our man in Baghdad working with the U.N., said that no such list had been compiled.

The New York Times

The book had been compiled by a colleague of Borneman's, who was also his lover at the time.

The Guardian - Books

Poland's list of proposed power plants had been compiled without checking the eligibility criteria, the source added.

The Guardian

The inquiry was also told of a dossier that had been compiled by Julian Pike, a solicitor from the firm Farrar, who then had NI as a client.

Independent

These books had been compiled by individual connoisseurs, the value of whose judgment rested solely on the authority attributed to them by the art world of their time.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The documents had been compiled during a six-year investigation into allegations that BAE had paid bribes around the world to secure lucrative arms contracts.

The Guardian

After Taylor reported, Bettison showed MPs at Westminster a video about the disaster that had been compiled by the South Yorkshire force.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been compiled" to clearly indicate that a set of information or data was gathered and organized before a specific point in time. This helps establish a timeline of events.

Common error

Avoid using "had been compiled" when simply stating that something is compiled now. "Has been compiled" or "was compiled" might be more appropriate depending on the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been compiled" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect passive voice. It indicates that an action of compiling was completed before a specific point in the past. As Ludwig indicates, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

28%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been compiled" is a grammatically sound and frequently used past perfect passive construction, indicating that something was gathered and organized before a certain point in the past. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability. It appears commonly across news, scientific, and encyclopedic sources, highlighting its versatility and formality. When using this phrase, ensure it correctly represents the timeline of events and consider related phrases like "was assembled" or "was gathered" for alternative phrasing. Avoid using it when referring to present compilation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was collected

Emphasizes the gathering of various pieces of information before organization.

was gathered

Similar to "was collected", but implies a more informal or less structured gathering process.

was assembled

Focuses on the action of putting things together in a structured way, rather than gathering information specifically.

was put together

Emphasizes the action of creating something from different components.

was created

Focuses on the act of bringing something new into existence, which may involve compilation.

was prepared

Highlights the readiness or suitability of something after it has been compiled.

was generated

Implies that the information was produced through a specific process, often automated.

was put in order

Emphasizes the organization aspect of bringing things in right order.

was drafted

Focuses on the initial writing or outlining stage of creating a document.

was developed

Suggests a gradual and iterative process of improvement and refinement.

FAQs

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

Use "had been compiled" to indicate that information was gathered and organized before a specific event or time. For example: "The report "had been compiled" before the meeting."

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

"Was compiled" refers to a single action in the past, whereas "had been compiled" indicates that the compilation was completed before another event in the past. The choice depends on whether you need to establish a sequence of past events.

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

You can use alternatives like "was assembled", "was gathered", or "was prepared", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "had been compile" grammatically correct?

No, "had been compile" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is ""had been compiled"", using the past participle form of the verb 'compile'.