had been enabled

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been enabled" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something was made possible or activated in the past, often in a passive construction. Example: "The new features had been enabled after the software update was completed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Defense lawyers argued that the plot had been enabled by a government informer.

The New York Times

And, just as Social Security had been enabled by I.B.M.'s computing advances, today's technologies offered new ways to enforce efficiency: biometrics, mobile connectivity, cloud computing.

The New Yorker

By the mid-19th century the nation was struggling to find the path from the Jeffersonian agricultural Arcadia to an Industrial Revolution that had been enabled by new network technologies like the railroad and telegraph.

The New York Times

Its debut follows a series of reports from people who recently found the feature had been enabled in beta versions of WhatsApp on Android and on Windows Phone – an indication that a public debut was on the horizon.

TechCrunch

In brief, the question Molyneux asked was whether a man who has been born blind and who has learnt to distinguish and name a globe and a cube by touch, would be able to distinguish and name these objects simply by sight, once he had been enabled to see.

SEP

By not enforcing this rule, numerous major contributors to the Republican Party had been enabled to rip off their stockholders.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Dr. Kim epitomizes the home-grown publishers whose wealth has been enabled by the Internet.

The New York Times - Tech

And due to the current regulations, we've been enabled to be competitive.

The New York Times - Sports

"We're dealing with a profound historical shift in the economy that has been enabled by technology".

The New York Times

"Everything we have learned and accomplished at Harlem Village Academies," she wrote, "has been enabled by two conditions: accountability and freedom".

The New York Times

Inadequate private demand continues to threaten a sluggish recovery that has been enabled by fracking and the Federal Reserve.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been enabled", ensure the context clearly indicates what was enabled and by what means. This maintains clarity and avoids ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

While "had been enabled" is grammatically correct, excessive use of passive voice can make writing sound weak or indirect. Consider rephrasing the sentence to use an active voice construction for a more direct and engaging tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been enabled" functions as a passive perfect construction. It indicates that an action of enabling or activating something was completed at a point in the past, before another past action or time. Ludwig confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

45%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

4%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been enabled" is a grammatically correct and relatively common passive perfect construction. According to Ludwig, it's used to describe a state where something was made possible or activated before a specific point in the past. Its usage spans across various contexts, from News & Media to Science, indicating a versatile application in both formal and neutral settings. While grammatically sound, be mindful of overusing the passive voice; consider active voice alternatives for a more direct writing style.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been activated

Focuses on the action of turning something on or making it operational.

had been made possible

Directly states that something was rendered achievable.

had been permitted

Emphasizes the granting of permission or authorization.

had been facilitated

Highlights the act of making something easier or more likely to happen.

had been empowered

Suggests giving someone or something the power or authority to do something.

had been authorized

Implies official approval or sanction.

had been triggered

Indicates that something was initiated or set off by a specific event or condition.

had been unlocked

Conveys the idea of something previously inaccessible becoming available.

had been opened up

Suggests new opportunities or possibilities were created.

had been set in motion

Emphasizes the initiation of a process or series of events.

FAQs

How can I rephrase a sentence using "had been enabled" to make it more active?

Instead of "The feature had been enabled by the update", try "The update enabled the feature". This shifts the focus to the actor (the update) and makes the sentence more direct.

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

"Had been enabled" indicates that the enabling action occurred before a specific point in the past. "Was enabled" simply indicates a past action without specifying its relation to another past event.

Are there specific contexts where "had been enabled" is more appropriate than other alternatives?

Yes. "Had been enabled" is particularly useful when describing a sequence of events where the enabling action is a prerequisite for another past action. For example: "The security system had been enabled before the incident occurred."

What are some alternative verbs to use with "had been" instead of "enabled"?

Depending on the context, you could use "had been activated", "had been facilitated", or "had been empowered" to convey subtle differences in meaning.