had been drafted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been drafted" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something was created or prepared in the past, often referring to documents or plans. Example: "The proposal had been drafted before the meeting to ensure all points were covered."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

He had been drafted.

The New York Times

Meanwhile Mr. Salinger had been drafted.

The New York Times - Books

MacDonald, the academic, had been drafted onto the panel.

The Guardian

No player had been drafted in the previous five years.

The New York Times - Sports

On such occasions, Sotomayor had been drafted as a cheerleader.

The New Yorker

Extra officers had been drafted in for the day.

Independent

He said that he had been drafted into the SS in 1942.

The New York Times

Then, in August, her husband, the father of their young daughter, had been drafted.

The New Yorker

By fall, however, my new husband had been drafted and sent to a base in California.

The New York Times

If he had been drafted, "I probably would have joined up," he added.

The New York Times

In 1938, Ohno had been drafted into the Japanese army as an intelligence officer.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been drafted" to indicate a passive action completed in the past before another point in time, often when referring to formal selection or preparation for a specific role or task.

Common error

Avoid using "had been drafted" when referring to actions happening in the present or future. Use the appropriate tense, such as "is being drafted" for present continuous passive or "will be drafted" for future passive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been drafted" functions as the past perfect passive voice. It indicates that someone or something was acted upon (drafted) before a specific point in the past. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been drafted" is a grammatically correct and very common past perfect passive construction. Ludwig confirms its wide usage, indicating an action of selection or preparation completed before a specific time in the past. It's primarily used in news and media, wiki and science contexts, maintaining a neutral to professional register. When writing, ensure the tense aligns with the intended meaning and consider contextually appropriate alternatives like "was selected" or "was recruited" to add more nuance. The varied examples found by Ludwig AI showcase the versatility and proper application of this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was enlisted

Similar to "was recruited", but often implies joining a military or similar organization.

was recruited

Suggests active efforts to find and enlist someone.

had been called upon

Focuses on the act of being asked or requested to do something.

was selected

Focuses on the act of choosing someone or something, omitting the preparatory aspect of "drafted".

was chosen

Similar to "was selected" but emphasizes the decision-making process.

had been assigned

Similar to "had been designated", but implies a specific task or duty.

was appointed

Implies a formal assignment to a role or position.

had been designated

Emphasizes the act of officially assigning a role or purpose.

was commissioned

Suggests a formal authorization or instruction to carry out a task.

had been tapped

Suggests a more informal or secretive selection process.

FAQs

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

Use "had been drafted" to describe a past action of being selected or prepared for a duty before another point in the past. For example, "The proposal "had been drafted" before the meeting started".

What are some alternatives to "had been drafted"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "was selected", "was chosen", or "was recruited".

Is it correct to say "was drafted" instead of "had been drafted"?

While "was drafted" is grammatically correct, it implies a simpler past action. "Had been drafted" indicates that the drafting occurred before another event in the past. Choose based on the specific timeline you want to convey.

What is the difference between "had been drafted" and "was prepared"?

"Had been drafted" often implies a more formal process of selection or assignment, especially in contexts like military service or document creation. "Was prepared" is a more general term indicating readiness or creation, without necessarily implying selection.