had been elected

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been elected" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone was elected to a position in the past, often in a context where the timing of the election is relevant to the current situation. Example: "Before the new policies were implemented, she had been elected as the president of the organization."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Three years after Mandela had been elected president in the first multiracial elections in South Africa.

Huffington Post

A Conservative had been elected?

The Guardian

And he, at least, had been elected.

The New York Times - Magazine

In 1844 he had been elected town supervisor of Fayette.

Cornell University

News that Bergoglio had been elected pope elated the team.

The New York Times

Within a few months, Merkel had been elected Party chairman.

The New Yorker

"It was like Trotsky had been elected mayor," Sugarman recalled.

The Guardian

If Gary Hart had been elected president, he might be.

The New York Times - Books

He had been elected mayor of Nicaragua's capital last year.

The New York Times - Sports

"I had been elected in 2004, sworn in in 2005.

The New Yorker

By 1967 he had been elected party leader.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To avoid ambiguity, ensure the context clearly indicates what position the person "had been elected" to.

Common error

Avoid using "had been elected" when simple past tense ("was elected") is sufficient. Overusing the past perfect can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been elected" functions as a past perfect passive construction, indicating a completed action (election) prior to a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Academia

17%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Science

7%

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been elected" is a grammatically sound and frequently used past perfect passive construction. According to Ludwig AI, it's used to indicate that an election occurred before a specific point in time. Common in news, academic writing, and encyclopedias, its neutral register makes it suitable for diverse contexts. Remember to use this phrase when establishing a sequence of past events, and avoid overuse to keep your writing concise. Related phrases include "was elected" or "had been chosen".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was elected

Uses a simpler past tense construction, omitting the perfect aspect.

had been chosen

Replaces "elected" with "chosen", indicating a selection process.

had been appointed

Substitutes "elected" with "appointed", suggesting a formal designation.

had won the election

More explicitly states the victory in an election.

had secured victory

Emphasizes the achievement of winning, but uses "victory" instead of "election".

had been selected

A more general term for being picked, not necessarily through a formal election.

had emerged victorious

Highlights the act of winning or prevailing in a selection.

had come to power

Focuses on attaining a position of authority, rather than the election process itself.

had taken office

Emphasizes the commencement of duties after being elected or appointed.

was voted in

An informal alternative, emphasizing the act of voting.

FAQs

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

Use "had been elected" to indicate that someone was elected to a position before a specific time in the past. For example: "By the time the scandal broke, he "had been elected" president."

What's the difference between "was elected" and "had been elected"?

"Was elected" describes a single event in the past, while "had been elected" indicates an event that occurred before another point in the past. Use "had been elected" to establish a sequence of events.

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

Alternatives include "was elected", "had been chosen", or "had been appointed", depending on the specific context and nuance you wish to convey.

Is "had been elected as" grammatically correct?

While commonly used, the "as" is often redundant. It's generally more concise to say "He "had been elected" president" rather than "He had been elected as president."