had been considered

USAGE SUMMARY

"had been considered" is correct and usable in written English.
It is the past perfect form of the verb "consider," which is used to indicate that something was thought of or discussed before a certain point in the past. For example, "The proposal had been considered by the committee before the vote."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

David, 45, had been considered favorite.

The New York Times

UConn had been considered a front-runner.

The New York Times - Sports

A taxicab had been considered, he said.

The New York Times

Every note had been considered and every note passionately attacked.

The New York Times

Until the discovery, Italy had been considered mad-cow-free.

The New York Times

It had been considered an obsolete instrument until then".

The New York Times

This year, Mr. Sununu, 44, had been considered vulnerable.

The New York Times

Two Democrats won races that had been considered competitive.

The New York Times

Often times these weapons had been considered obsolete before 2003.

The New York Times

Previously, the family home had been considered joint property.

The New York Times

No lawsuit, he said, had been considered or discussed.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been considered" when indicating that a past assessment or evaluation occurred before another point in the past. For example, "The candidate had been considered the front-runner until new evidence emerged."

Common error

Avoid using "had been considered" when referring to present or future considerations. Instead, use "is considered" or "will be considered" to maintain correct tense consistency.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been considered" functions as the past perfect passive form of the verb "consider". It indicates that something was thought about, evaluated, or assessed prior to a specific point in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, this construction is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been considered" is a grammatically correct and frequently used past perfect passive construction. As Ludwig AI points out, it's used to indicate a prior assessment or evaluation before a specific point in the past. The phrase is most commonly found in "News & Media" and scientific contexts, suggesting a neutral register. To ensure clarity, it's best to avoid using "had been considered" for present or future considerations, and to understand the differences between it and similar phrases such as "was considered" or "has been considered". It is a versatile option for formal and informal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was earlier regarded as

Highlights a prior perspective or opinion.

was initially viewed as

Highlights the original assessment or perception.

was previously thought to be

Emphasizes a past belief that has possibly changed since then.

was once believed to be

Suggests a former conviction or acceptance.

was previously understood as

Emphasizes a prior comprehension or interpretation.

was formerly deemed as

Indicates a formal judgment made in the past.

was historically regarded as

Implies a long-standing past view.

had at one time been deemed

Stresses that at a certain past moment, something was judged to be a certain way.

had been looked upon as

Conveys an older informal perspective.

had been supposed to be

Indicates an expectation or assumption in the past.

FAQs

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

Use "had been considered" to indicate that something was thought of or assessed before a specific time in the past. For example, "The proposal "had been considered" before the meeting took place."

What are some alternatives to "had been considered"?

You can use phrases such as "was previously thought to be", "was earlier regarded as", or "was once believed to be" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "has been considered" instead of "had been considered"?

While both phrases are grammatically correct, they convey different timeframes. "Has been considered" indicates something that started in the past and continues to be considered or is relevant to the present, while ""had been considered"" refers to something assessed entirely in the past.

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

"Was considered" indicates a simple past assessment, while ""had been considered"" emphasizes that the consideration occurred before another event in the past. For example, "The plan was considered but rejected" vs. "The plan "had been considered" before the new management took over".