had been disrupted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been disrupted" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or event that was interrupted or disturbed in the past, often in a context where the effects are still relevant. Example: "The meeting had been disrupted by unexpected technical difficulties, causing delays in the agenda."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

(Even the Internet had been disrupted).

The New York Times - Magazine

Its very rhythm had been disrupted".

The New Yorker

Her routine had been disrupted and she didn't like it.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Margaret decided her daughter's life had been disrupted enough.

The Guardian

Public transport company Translink said rail services had been disrupted between Lisburn and Portadown.

The Guardian

In Ganso's defence, his preparation for the Copa had been disrupted by fitness problems.

The Guardian - Sport

Everton's preparations had been disrupted by the late withdrawal of Sylvain Distin through illness.

The Guardian - Sport

He said it was hard to "prove a negative" and cite specific terrorist acts that had been disrupted.

The New York Times

The US claimed 56 plots had been disrupted as a result of surveillance, but under pressure acknowledged this was untrue.

The Guardian

In any case, our presence at the meeting had been disrupted by the simultaneous state attack on us.

The Guardian

Just a few months earlier, the Democratic party convention had been disrupted by a huge police riot against Vietnam protesters.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been disrupted" to clearly indicate that an event or process was interrupted before a specific point in the past. This helps establish a sequence of events and provides context for subsequent actions or consequences.

Common error

Avoid using "had been disrupted" when a simpler past tense ("was disrupted") or present perfect tense ("has been disrupted") is more appropriate. Ensure the past perfect construction is necessary to show that the disruption occurred before another past action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been disrupted" functions as a past perfect passive construction, indicating that an action of disruption was completed before a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. Examples from Ludwig show its versatility in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Sport

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had been disrupted" is a grammatically sound and common construction used to indicate that something was interrupted or disturbed before a specific point in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s versatile and appropriate for various contexts, ranging from news reports to scientific articles. The phrase's usage spans multiple authoritative sources, including The New York Times and The Guardian, demonstrating its widespread acceptance. While alternatives like "was interrupted" or "was disturbed" exist, "had been disrupted" is particularly useful for establishing a clear chronological order when discussing past events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was interrupted

Focuses on the act of interruption, often implying a temporary halt.

was disturbed

Emphasizes the disturbance or unsettling of a situation.

was hampered

Focuses on something that's been made more difficult, but not necessarily stopped.

was interfered with

Highlights external interference affecting the normal course.

was impaired

Indicates a weakening or damaging effect due to the disruption.

experienced interference

Highlights the external factors causing disruption.

was thrown into disarray

Indicates a state of disorder or chaos resulting from the disruption.

was unsettled

Emphasizes the instability caused by the disruption.

suffered a setback

Implies a delay or reversal in progress due to the disruption.

was derailed

Suggests a complete departure from the intended path or plan.

FAQs

How can I use "had been disrupted" in a sentence?

The phrase "had been disrupted" indicates that something was interrupted before a specific time in the past. For example, "The supply chain "had been disrupted" due to the earthquake, causing shortages."

What are some alternatives to "had been disrupted"?

Alternatives include "was interrupted", "was disturbed", or "was interfered with", depending on the specific context.

What is the difference between "was disrupted" and "had been disrupted"?

"Was disrupted" describes an event that happened at a specific time in the past. "Had been disrupted", in contrast, indicates that the disruption occurred before another event in the past. For example, "The meeting was disrupted by a fire alarm" vs. "The meeting "had been disrupted" by the time the manager arrived".

Is "had been disrupted" formal or informal?

The phrase "had been disrupted" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and the overall tone of the communication.