had been contained

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been contained" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in the past perfect tense to indicate that something was contained before another action or time in the past. Example: "The virus had been contained before it could spread to other regions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Only 7percentt of the fire had been contained this afternoon, and further containment was at least in part dependent on the weather.

The New York Times

But the infection had been contained.

The Washington Post

He said that the fire had been contained in the engine area.

The Times

It had been contained by the afternoon and the theatre declared safe.

The Times

"It wasn't anything he did," Martin said of Pierce, who had been contained for three quarters.

The New York Times - Sports

By 10 a.m. the fire had been contained and the roof had collapsed.

The New York Times - Arts

As of Sunday afternoon, however, only 5percentt of the blaze had been contained.

The New York Times

"I'm not here to retire," Messier defiantly vowed, once all his emotions had been contained.

The New York Times - Sports

By Monday morning, fire officials said that 40 percent of the fire had been contained.

The New York Times

The contradictions that had been contained under Saddam Hussein burst forth into the open.

The New York Times

Brexit and Trump looked more like a nasty Anglo-Saxon virus that had been contained at the Channel.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been contained" to clearly indicate that an action of containment occurred and was completed before another point in time. This is especially effective when describing historical events or processes.

Common error

Avoid using "has been contained" if the containment action was completed in the past and is not ongoing. "Had been contained" emphasizes the sequence of events in the past more accurately.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been contained" functions as the past perfect passive form of the verb "contain". It indicates that an action of containing or controlling something was completed before a specific time in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Formal & Business

15%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Science

6%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been contained" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that serves to convey the successful control or limitation of something before a certain point in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, especially in news, formal writing, and general discussions. While alternatives like "was controlled" or "was limited" exist, the specific nuance of "had been contained" effectively communicates a completed action with implications for a past situation. Remember to select the correct tense and maintain clarity in expressing the sequence of events. The primary contexts where this phrase appears are News & Media, Formal & Business, and Encyclopedias.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was kept under control

Emphasizes the state of being managed and prevented from escalating.

was brought under control

Highlights the action of gaining control over something previously out of control.

had been managed

Focuses on the successful handling and control of a situation or problem.

was controlled

Focuses on the action of controlling something in the past.

had been localized

Emphasizes that something was limited to a specific area or location.

had been restricted

Focuses on the act of limiting or confining something.

was limited

Highlights the restriction or limitation placed on something.

had been checked

Implies that something was stopped or its progress was hindered.

had been curbed

Highlights the act of restraining or controlling something undesirable.

had been suppressed

Suggests that something was forcibly put down or prevented from developing.

FAQs

How is "had been contained" used in a sentence?

The phrase "had been contained" indicates that something was successfully controlled or limited before a specific time in the past. For example, "The fire "had been contained" before it spread to the neighboring buildings".

What are some alternatives to "had been contained"?

You can use phrases like "was controlled", "was limited", or "was kept under control" as alternatives to "had been contained", depending on the specific context.

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

The choice between "has been contained" and "had been contained" depends on the context. "Has been contained" implies the action is recent or relevant to the present, while "had been contained" refers to a completed action in the past before another past event.

What does ""had been contained"" imply about the situation?

It suggests that a potentially harmful or undesirable situation was successfully controlled or restricted, preventing further spread or escalation before a specific point in the past. For instance, "The outbreak "had been contained" by the time the WHO arrived".