had been done

USAGE SUMMARY

'had been done' is a perfectly correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is the past perfect tense of the verb 'to do', which is used to emphasize that an action had already been completed before another action occurred. For example: "The homework had been done before the bell rang, so the students were free to go home."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

"The job had been done.

The New Yorker

The damage had been done.

The New York Times

Some damage had been done.

The New York Times

It had been done.

The Guardian - Sport

That had been done for years.

The New Yorker

Capes had been done away with.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

11 human-written examples

That has been done.

Independent

Nothing has been done".

The New York Times

It has been done before.

The New York Times

Little has been done since.

The Economist

But little has been done.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been done" to emphasize the completion of an action before another event in the past. This helps to establish a clear sequence of events and highlight the impact of the completed action.

Common error

Avoid using "had been done" when the action is not completed before another past event. Using the simple past tense ("was done") may be more appropriate if the sequence isn't emphasized.

Linguistic Context

"Had been done" functions as the past perfect passive form of the verb "do". It indicates that an action was completed at some point in the past before another action also in the past. Ludwig examples confirm its proper usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been done" is a grammatically correct and versatile phrase used to indicate the completion of an action before another event in the past. As confirmed by Ludwig, its function is to emphasize the sequence of events, providing clarity and context. Its neutral register makes it suitable for a wide range of contexts, from news and media to scientific and formal writing. Common alternatives include "was already completed" and "was finished". The phrase is frequently found in news and media and science sources, highlighting its relevance and applicability in various professional domains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was finished

A simpler and more direct way of expressing completion.

was already completed

Focuses on the completion aspect with a different verb structure.

had been accomplished

Emphasizes achievement and success in completing the action.

had been executed

Suggests a more formal or planned completion of the task.

had been finalized

Highlights the concluding and definitive nature of the action.

was carried out

Focuses on the process of performing the action.

had taken place

Emphasizes that an event happened or occurred.

had transpired

Emphasizes that the event had occurred.

had been realized

Emphasizes the achievement or manifestation of something.

had come to pass

Emphasizes the realization or fulfillment of something.

FAQs

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

"Had been done" indicates that an action was completed before another action in the past. For example, "The homework "had been done" before the game started".

What are some alternatives to "had been done"?

Alternatives include "was already completed", "had been accomplished", or "was finished", depending on the context.

When should I use "had been done" versus "was done"?

Use "had been done" when you want to emphasize that an action was completed before another action in the past. Use "was done" when you're simply stating that an action was completed, without emphasizing the sequence.

Is "had been done" formal or informal?

"Had been done" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its usage depends more on the need to establish a sequence of past events than on the level of formality.