had been divorced

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been divorced" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate a past state or condition that occurred before another past event. Example: "By the time she met him, she had been divorced for two years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

His parents had been divorced.

The New York Times - Sports

He had been divorced for five years.

The Guardian - Opinion

She, too, lived in town and had been divorced.

The New Yorker

When Carlyle died, both couples had been divorced.

The New Yorker

The answer was because he had been divorced.

Independent

An applicant who had been divorced would give pause.

The Washington Post

So was Ms. Brower, who had been divorced once.

The New York Times - Style

Walter and Betsy had been divorced for a year.

The New Yorker

The bride had been divorced and was then a widow, and the groom was a widower.

The New York Times

Mr. Silvia knew she had been divorced, but had not realized she had two former husbands.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

I've been divorced twice.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been divorced", ensure that the context makes it clear who was divorced and from whom. Clarity prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "had been divorced" when the simple past "was divorced" is sufficient. "Had been divorced" is best when indicating an action completed before another past action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been divorced" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect passive voice. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It describes a state resulting from a past action completed before another point in time.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Encyclopedias

6%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been divorced" is a grammatically sound and very common expression used to indicate a past state of being divorced before another event occurred. As Ludwig AI states, it's correct and usable in written English. It's particularly frequent in news and media contexts. When writing, it's important to ensure the context clearly establishes who was divorced and from whom, maintaining clarity and avoiding ambiguity. Remember to reserve it for situations where the past perfect tense is necessary to establish a clear sequence of events; otherwise, "was divorced" may suffice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was previously married

Replaces the passive voice with a more direct statement of past marital status.

experienced a divorce

Focuses on the event of divorce rather than the state.

went through a divorce

Similar to 'experienced a divorce' but emphasizes the process.

formerly married

A more concise way of stating a previous marital status.

is a divorcee

Identifies the person as someone who has been divorced, using a noun.

had ended their marriage

Focuses on the action of ending the marriage.

was once married

Simply states that the person was married at some point in the past.

marriage had ended

Shifts the focus to the status of the marriage, rather than the person.

previous marriage dissolved

A more formal and legalistic way of saying the marriage ended.

no longer married

States the current status of not being married, implying a past marriage.

FAQs

How do I use "had been divorced" in a sentence?

Use "had been divorced" to indicate that a divorce occurred before another event in the past. For example: "She "had been divorced" for five years when she met her current husband".

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

You can use alternatives like "was previously married", "went through a divorce", or "formerly married" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "was divorced" or "had been divorced"?

Both are correct, but "had been divorced" specifies that the divorce happened before another point in the past. "Was divorced" simply states that the divorce happened in the past without relating it to another event.

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

"Divorced" typically refers to a state in the past. "Had been divorced" indicates a state of being divorced prior to another event in the past, establishing a sequence of events.