had been devolved

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been devolved" is not correct in standard English usage.
The term "devolve" typically refers to the transfer of power or responsibility, and it is usually used in the active voice rather than the passive. Example: "The responsibilities had devolved to the local government after the reform."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Another fix would be for Westminster to sit as the parliament of England, with only MPs from English constituencies, for all matters that had been devolved.

Independent

The report, by the defence force and customs, found the responsibility for staying outside of Indonesian waters had been "devolved" to vessel commanders.

The Guardian

Although promising the all-party "vow" on further devolution would be honoured, David Cameron insisted the anomaly of English MPs potentially being outvoted on matters that had been devolved would end.

Independent

A public version of the customs and navy inquiry into the six incursions ruled out any deliberate incursion into Indonesian territorial waters and said the responsibility for navigation had been "devolved" to vessel commanders.

The Guardian

These multiple control design layouts for the given performance levels need to be validated using random seismic excitations because those performance-based designs (PBD) had been devolved based on the specific strength of design objective earthquakes (i.e., hazard levels) from the DPBD.

Engineering Structures

It was the prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, who referred Catalonia's statute of autonomy to the Spanish constitutional court, which struck down some of its most important provisions; his government has stripped away powers that had been devolved to autonomous governments; his education minister has even spoken of the need to "Hispanicise" Catalan children.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

For years, the global wine industry had been devolving toward a monoculture, with local grape varieties ripped out in favor of more immediately profitable, mass-market types.

The New York Times

Many have been devolved further, to individuals.

The Economist

It has been devolved to a committee.

The Guardian - Opinion

Much responsibility has been devolved to the military.

The Guardian

Some ministries – the ones where power has been devolved – could not be headed by Scottish MPs.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the transfer of power or responsibilities, ensure your sentence clearly indicates who or what 'devolved' the responsibility. Using the active voice can often improve clarity.

Common error

Avoid using the passive voice with "had been devolved" when the actor is unclear. This can lead to confusion about who transferred the responsibilities.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been devolved" functions as a past perfect passive construction, indicating that an action of devolving (transferring powers or responsibilities) was completed at a time before another point in the past. However, Ludwig AI marks it as potentially incorrect, suggesting careful consideration of usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had been devolved" is used to describe the completed transfer of power or responsibility, often from a central authority. Ludwig AI identifies potential grammatical issues with the phrase, suggesting that while it appears in various sources, careful consideration should be given to its usage. Common contexts include news and scientific articles. If aiming for maximum clarity and formality, consider using alternatives such as "had been delegated" or "had been transferred". Always ensure that the context clearly identifies who or what performed the devolution. Remember that using the active voice will help you improve clarity in similar cases.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been delegated

Emphasizes a formal assignment of responsibility to a specific entity.

had been transferred

Focuses on the shifting of something from one place or entity to another.

had been assigned

Highlights the allocation of a task or duty to someone.

had been passed down

Implies a transfer of responsibility or knowledge through generations or hierarchies.

had been handed over

Suggests a more informal transfer of control or responsibility.

had been entrusted

Highlights that trust was placed in the recipient of the responsibility.

had been shifted

Indicates a change in where responsibility lies, often due to external pressures.

had been remitted

Focuses on sending money or payment and it's a formal concept to transfer.

had been ceded

Implies a more formal or legal relinquishing of power or territory.

had been vouchsafed

Highlights a guarantee on the concept of transfer.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "had been devolved" for clarity?

Consider using alternatives like "had been delegated" or "had been transferred" to specify the actor in the devolution.

What is wrong with the phrase "had been devolved"?

While understandable, "had been devolved" can sound awkward in standard English. It's often better to use a more direct active voice construction.

When is it appropriate to use the word "devolved"?

Use "devolved" when emphasizing the transfer of powers or responsibilities from a central authority to regional or local entities. For example, "Powers have been devolved to the Scottish Parliament".

What's the difference between "had been delegated" and "had been devolved"?

"Had been delegated" implies a specific assignment of a task or duty, while "had been devolved" refers to the broader transfer of power or responsibility from a central authority.