had been counted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been counted" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in the past perfect tense to indicate that an action of counting was completed before another action in the past. Example: "By the time the meeting started, all the votes had been counted."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Every minute had been counted and used.

The New Yorker

The team eventually selected 513 populations that had been counted at least five times.

The Guardian

If it had been counted, the building would have exceeded its permissible size.

The New York Times

If they had been counted, Mr Gore would have had a net gain of 682 votes.

The Guardian

Televotes from Crimea had been counted, according to Eurovision decree, as Ukrainian.

The New Yorker

Harvey Nichols said that all the votes had been counted correctly.

The New York Times

If they had been counted, the jobless rate in June would have been 9.9 percent.

The New York Times

Officials cautioned that only a fraction of the more than 12 million votes had been counted.

The New York Times

Even before half the precincts had been counted, President Bush called Mr. Chambliss to congratulate him.

The New York Times

(The authorities revised the number downward on Monday, saying that some names had been counted twice).

The New York Times

But Mr Netanyahu would not concede defeat until all the votes had been counted.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been counted", ensure the context clearly establishes the timeframe: the counting action was completed before another past event. For example, "The votes had been counted before the winner was announced".

Common error

Avoid using "had been counted" when the context requires a simpler past tense, such as "were counted". Use "had been counted" only when you need to emphasize that the counting action was completed prior to another event in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been counted" functions as a verb phrase in the passive voice, indicating a completed action in the past before another point in time. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples where the action of counting precedes another event.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been counted" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase, particularly in news and media contexts. It serves to indicate that an action of counting was completed before another event in the past. As Ludwig AI points out, its grammatical status is correct and it enjoys a wide range of applicability, although careful attention should be paid to tense consistency to prevent errors. Understanding these nuances ensures precise and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been totaled

Directly refers to the action of adding up to a final sum.

were tallied

Focuses on the act of summing up or calculating a total.

were calculated

Emphasizes the mathematical process of finding a numerical result.

had been enumerated

Emphasizes the detailed process of listing items individually.

had been included

Highlights the fact of being part of a larger set or group.

had been reckoned

Implies a more considered or estimated calculation.

had been factored in

Indicates that something was taken into account in a calculation or decision.

had been assessed

Suggests a formal or official evaluation process.

had been registered

Focuses on the act of recording or listing something officially.

had been incorporated

Implies being integrated into a larger whole.

FAQs

How to use "had been counted" in a sentence?

Use "had been counted" to indicate that something was counted before a specific point in the past. For example, "By the time the audit started, all the inventory "had been counted"."

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

You can use alternatives like "were tallied", "had been enumerated", or "had been included" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "had been counted" or "were counted"?

Both are correct, but they imply different time relationships. "Had been counted" indicates the counting was completed before another past action, while "were counted" simply states that the counting occurred in the past without specifying a prior event.

What's the difference between "had been counted" and "had been assessed"?

"Had been counted" refers to the act of enumeration, while "had been assessed" implies an evaluation or judgment process. Use "had been assessed" when you want to emphasize the evaluation aspect rather than simply the counting.