had been completed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'had been completed' is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it when you are talking about an action that happened at a point in the past before another event. For example, "The house construction had been completed before the family moved in."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

True, much had been completed.

The New York Times

Only a few miles had been completed.

The New Yorker

Sixteen wickets had fallen before 55 overs had been completed.

Independent

Most of the reverse changes had been completed by 1979.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Their mission, the destruction of Polish Jewry, had been completed.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It had been completed just two weeks before the destruction.

The New York Times

The park and children's playground had been completed.

The New York Times

The great bulk of his creative work had been completed.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Ford said his prescribed treatment had been completed.

The New York Times - Sports

"This was done before our editorial process had been completed.

The Guardian

He doesn't agree but the tackle had been completed.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a process or project, "had been completed" can effectively communicate that all required steps were successfully executed by a specific time.

Common error

Avoid using "had been completed" when the simple past tense ("was completed") is sufficient. Overusing the past perfect can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex. Use the past perfect only when you need to show that one past action preceded another.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been completed" functions as the past perfect passive voice. It indicates that an action was finished at a point in the past before another action took place. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable construction in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

31%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been completed" is a grammatically correct and frequently used construction in English to indicate that an action was finished before another point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability. The phrase is commonly found in science, news and media, and wiki sources. When writing, remember to use it only when necessary to establish a clear sequence of events and avoid overcomplicating your sentences. Consider alternatives like "had been finished" when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been finished

Replaces 'completed' with a direct synonym, 'finished', maintaining the same tense and meaning.

was already done

Changes the structure to active voice, implying the action was done by someone or something.

had been executed

Implies a more formal or official completion, often used in project management or legal contexts.

had been fulfilled

Suggests that a requirement, promise, or obligation has been met.

had reached completion

Uses a noun phrase to convey the state of being complete, slightly more formal.

had been achieved

Focuses on the accomplishment aspect of completing a task or goal.

had been realized

Emphasizes the actualization of a plan or objective.

was brought to a close

Conveys the idea of ending or finalizing something, often an event or process.

had been concluded

Indicates a formal ending or resolution, commonly used in reports or legal settings.

had been finalized

Highlights the last stage of making something complete, usually involving confirmation or approval.

FAQs

How do I use "had been completed" in a sentence?

Use "had been completed" to show that an action was finished before another action or point in the past. For example, "The report "had been completed" before the meeting started."

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

You can use alternatives like "had been finished", "was already done", or "had reached completion" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "had been completed" or "was completed"?

Both are correct but have different meanings. "Was completed" describes an action completed in the past, while "had been completed" indicates an action completed before another point in the past. The choice depends on the context and the sequence of events you want to convey.

What's the difference between "had been completed" and "has been completed"?

"Had been completed" refers to something finished before a specific time in the past, using the past perfect tense. "Has been completed" refers to something finished before the present, using the present perfect tense. The tense indicates the time frame in relation to the speaker.