had been distributed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been distributed" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used in the past perfect tense, which is used to describe an action that happened before a certain point in the past. For example, you could say: "By the time the celebration started, all the presents had been distributed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

He rejected allegations that illegal voter cards had been distributed.

Independent

Leaflets had been distributed locally warning people: "Don't snitch".

The Guardian - Opinion

Until today, the document had been distributed only to people with security clearances.

The New York Times

Also tells about the strange theatre program that had been distributed.

The New Yorker

By the end of 2011, 235m bed nets had been distributed.

The Guardian

Customers were able to find a color scheme, say, that had been distributed only in Florida.

The New York Times - Style

We had no idea how many packets were contaminated or precisely where they had been distributed.

The New York Times - Science

Less than an hour after the operation had begun, the six hundred postcards had been distributed.

The New Yorker

The packets had been distributed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The New York Times

In March, Survival highlighted a US government cable, which had been distributed by Wikileaks.

Independent

Mr. Gribetz said that so far, $485 million had been distributed internationally to people with various claims.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been distributed", ensure the context clearly establishes the past point of reference before which the distribution occurred. This helps to avoid ambiguity and provides a clear timeline of events.

Common error

Avoid using "had been distributed" when the context only requires the simple past passive voice ("was distributed"). The past perfect tense should only be used when indicating that the distribution occurred before another action in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been distributed" functions as a passive past perfect construction, indicating that an action (distribution) was completed before a specific point in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and widely used. Examples include voter cards, bed nets, and leaflets, showcasing its versatility.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

15%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been distributed" is a grammatically correct and widely used past perfect passive construction. As Ludwig AI points out, it effectively conveys that an action of distribution was completed before a certain point in the past. Predominantly found in News & Media and Science contexts, as demonstrated by the Ludwig examples, it serves to provide context and clarity in various scenarios. When using this phrase, ensure the timeline of events is clear to avoid ambiguity. Remember to use a simpler tense such as "were distributed" if the past perfect is not necessary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were distributed

Changes the tense from past perfect to simple past, losing the implication of completion before another past action.

have been distributed

Shifts the tense to present perfect, indicating an action completed at some point before now with ongoing relevance.

had been allocated

Replaces "distributed" with "allocated", focusing on the assignment of resources for a specific purpose.

had been disseminated

Substitutes "distributed" with "disseminated", emphasizing the wide spreading of information or knowledge.

had been circulated

Replaces "distributed" with "circulated", highlighting the movement of something among a group of people.

had been issued

Replaces "distributed" with "issued", emphasizing the formal release or provision of something.

had been dispensed

Substitutes "distributed" with "dispensed", implying a careful or controlled distribution.

had been supplied

Replaces "distributed" with "supplied", focusing on the provision of necessary items or resources.

had been propagated

Substitutes "distributed" with "propagated", emphasizing the spread or promotion of something, often ideas or beliefs.

had been scattered

Replaces "distributed" with "scattered", suggesting a less organized or random spreading of something.

FAQs

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

Use "had been distributed" to describe an action of distributing something that was completed before a specific point in the past. For example, "By the time the event started, the flyers "had been distributed"".

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

Alternatives include "were distributed", "had been allocated", or "had been disseminated", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

What's the difference between "had been distributed" and "were distributed"?

"Had been distributed" indicates that the distribution occurred before another event in the past, while "were distributed" simply indicates that the distribution occurred in the past, without specifying a relationship to another past event.

Is "had been distributed" formal or informal?

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