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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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had been crashed

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been crashed" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used in contexts where an event has occurred in the past, but the verb "crash" is not commonly used in the passive voice in this form. Example: "The system had been crashed due to a power failure."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The party had been crashed; the system had been hacked.

News & Media

The New Yorker

The save on Kane came after Holtby had been crashed into more than usual.

The passengers on Flight 93 became aware of the planes that had been crashed into the W.T.C. and the Pentagon from their families via their cellphones.

News & Media

The New York Times

The recordings from that flight could reveal whether reports are true that passengers, hearing that other aeroplanes had been crashed into the World Trade Centre, overpowered the hijackers to prevent them doing something equally murderous.The investigation has revealed how vulnerable an open, liberal, capitalist society can be.

News & Media

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Witnesses reported that chunks of flaming scaffolding had been crashing down around the building.

News & Media

The Guardian

One bus company, it seemed, had been crashing quite a bit recently.

News & Media

The New York Times

Cohen sensed that online video — which had been crashing back to Earth for more than a decade — might finally be approaching its escape velocity.

News & Media

The New Yorker

Cohen sensed that online video which had been crashing back to Earth for more than a decade might finally be approaching its escape velocity.

News & Media

The New Yorker

So I began doing that and at exactly the same time, Vice President Agnew, Mr. Nixon's vice president, had been crashing around the country complaining about the liberal media.

Up until now, the only places Snooki had been crashing were the floors of dance clubs, bathrooms, and strangers' beds.

News & Media

Huffington Post

"It is like someone borrowing your car, and then you finding out from a neighbor that it has been crashed," he said.

News & Media

The New York Times
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the passive construction "had been crashed" in formal writing. Opt for active voice constructions like "had crashed" for greater clarity and impact.

Common error

Don't overuse passive voice with verbs like "crash". While grammatically possible in some contexts, it often sounds awkward. Prefer active voice or alternative phrasings for better readability.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

89%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been crashed" functions as a passive perfect construction, indicating that an action (crashing) was completed before a specific point in the past. However, Ludwig AI notes this construction is not standard written English and other phrasing options are preferable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while grammatically understandable, the phrase "had been crashed" is an uncommon and often awkward passive perfect construction. Ludwig AI describes it as not correct in standard written English. Alternatives like "had crashed" or rephrasing the sentence are generally preferred for clarity and impact. The phrase appears most frequently in news media but is rare overall. When writing, consider using active voice or more direct language to avoid this construction.

FAQs

Is "had been crashed" grammatically correct?

While not strictly incorrect, "had been crashed" is uncommon and can sound awkward. It's often better to use the active voice "had crashed" or rephrase the sentence for improved clarity. Ludwig AI reports that this phrase is not correct in standard written English.

What are some alternatives to "had been crashed"?

Depending on the context, alternatives include "had crashed", "had collided", or "was involved in a crash".

When is it appropriate to use "had been crashed"?

While grammatically possible, "had been crashed" is rarely the most natural or clear phrasing. Consider using active voice or alternative constructions for better readability. For example, rather than saying "The system had been crashed", it's better to say "The system had crashed".

What's the difference between "had been crashed" and "had crashed"?

"Had crashed" is in the active voice, directly stating that something caused a crash. "Had been crashed" is in the passive voice, implying that something was acted upon, resulting in a crash. The active voice is generally clearer and more concise.

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Source & Trust

89%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: