had been disappeared

USAGE SUMMARY

"had been disappeared" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to indicate that something was no longer present or visible at some point in the past. For example, "The ship had been disappeared into the horizon by the time the sun had set."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

By the end of the dictatorship, approximately 30,000 people had been "disappeared".

The Guardian

One woman gave evidence that her husband, a prominent Aristide supporter, had been "disappeared" in 1992.

The Guardian

Her parents, both activists, had been "disappeared" after handing out leaflets in the eastern city of Kassala.

Independent

Each week, the mothers of people who had been disappeared gathered in front of the Presidential palace in silent protest.

The New Yorker

To my family, it was like I had been disappeared for the entire duration of the royal wedding".

The Guardian

One of his three sisters had been "disappeared" by paramilitary forces... Larry says, "I'm sure yis'll make a very happy couple".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

He had been disappearing all year.

The New Yorker

But mixed farming had been disappearing.

The New Yorker

I felt that as a kid, but it had been disappearing.

The New Yorker

"I had been subjected to violence, and my aides and people investigating [the murder] had been disappearing".

The Economist

Another significant revision of the NSL was done in 1991 when the Socialist bloc in Eastern Europe was dissolved and the Cold War System had been disappearing.

Asian Journal of German and European Studies

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When possible, clarify who or what caused the disappearance to provide more context and clarity. For example, "The evidence had been disappeared by the corrupt officials" is more informative than "The evidence had been disappeared."

Common error

Avoid overuse of the passive voice. While "had been disappeared" is grammatically correct, active voice constructions like "someone disappeared them" can often be more direct and engaging. Consider whether the passive voice is truly necessary for emphasis or if the active voice would be a stronger choice.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been disappeared" functions as a past perfect passive construction. It describes an action completed before a specific point in the past, where the subject is the recipient of the action of disappearing. Ludwig AI validates this usage, confirming it’s a proper grammatical construction.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Science

16%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been disappeared" is a grammatically correct past perfect passive construction used to describe an action of making something vanish completed before a specific time in the past. Ludwig AI confirms this. It's commonly found in news and media sources, and to a lesser extent, in scientific contexts. While grammatically sound, it is important to consider if an active voice construction would be more direct and impactful. When writing, bear in mind the emphasis that passive voice provides, focusing on the recipient of the disappearance, not necessarily the actor. Consider using synonyms like "had vanished" or "had gone missing" for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had vanished

Replaces "disappeared" with a more direct synonym, implying a sudden and complete disappearance.

had gone missing

Focuses on the state of being lost or absent, often used when the disappearance is unexplained.

had been abducted

Specifically indicates that someone was taken against their will.

had been taken away

A more general term for removal, without specifying the reason or method.

had been spirited away

Suggests a mysterious or magical disappearance.

had been lost

Emphasizes the state of being unrecoverable or no longer in one's possession.

had been purged

Indicates a deliberate removal, often in a political or organizational context.

had been eliminated

Implies a forceful or planned removal, often with negative connotations.

had been erased

Suggests the removal of all traces or evidence of someone or something.

had been secreted

Implies hidden or concealed.

FAQs

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

The phrase "had been disappeared" indicates that something or someone vanished or was made to vanish in the past. For instance, "The documents "had been disappeared" before the investigation could begin."

What are some alternatives to "had been disappeared"?

You could use phrases like "had vanished", "had gone missing", or "had been abducted" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use active or passive voice when describing a disappearance?

It depends on the context. Passive voice (e.g., "had been disappeared") emphasizes the object or person that disappeared, while active voice (e.g., "someone disappeared them") emphasizes the actor. Choose the voice that best suits the focus of your sentence.

What is the difference between "had been disappeared" and "had disappeared"?

"Had disappeared" is intransitive, meaning it does not take a direct object and describes something vanishing on its own. "Had been disappeared" is passive, implying an external agent caused the disappearance. For example, "The treasure had disappeared" versus "The treasure "had been disappeared" by pirates."