had been established

USAGE SUMMARY

"had been established" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to indicate that something already happened in the past and was established at some point before the present. For example, "The company had been established for 10 years before it moved to a new building."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The electrical connection had been established.

The New York Times

Our territory had been established.

The New York Times

Central Park West had been established about 1890.

The New York Times

But the tone had been established.

The New York Times - Sports

A certain tone had been established.

The Guardian - Music

A new diplomatic precedent had been established.

The New Yorker

Chris Hunter, a doctor, said no cause had been established.

The New York Times

Nevertheless, the Republic of Texas had been established.

Britannica

But Beatrice arrived before our ITFC had been established.

The Guardian

A trend for the future had been established.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

This has been established.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been established", ensure that the context clearly indicates the time frame. It's crucial to show how the establishment relates to another event in the past. For example, "The foundation had been established for years before the building was constructed."

Common error

Avoid using "had been established" when the simple past tense "was established" is sufficient. Use the past perfect construction only when indicating that the establishment occurred before another point in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been established" functions as a past perfect passive construction. It indicates that an action of establishing something was completed before another point in the past. Ludwig's examples showcase this usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

35%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been established" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed past perfect passive construction. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to indicate that something was set up or created before another event in the past. Its usage is versatile, spanning across news, scientific, and academic domains, though more common in formal contexts. When using this phrase, ensure a clear temporal relationship is established, and consider alternatives like "was founded" or "was created" for slightly different emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was founded

Focuses on the act of founding or starting something, implying initiation.

was created

Emphasizes the act of creation, highlighting the origin of something.

was instituted

Suggests a formal or official establishment, often used for rules or systems.

was formed

Implies a coming together of elements to create something new.

was initiated

Highlights the start or commencement of a process or organization.

was set up

An informal way of saying something was arranged or organized.

was brought into existence

A more descriptive and formal way of saying something was created.

was originated

Focuses on the point of origin or invention of something.

was developed

Suggests a process of growth and refinement over time.

came into being

A more literary or philosophical way to express the start of existence.

FAQs

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

Use "had been established" to indicate that something was set up or created at a point in the past before another past action. For example, "By the time the new CEO arrived, the company culture "had been established"."

What are some alternatives to "had been established"?

Alternatives include "was founded", "was created", or "was instituted", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "has been established" instead of "had been established"?

While "had been established" refers to a past action completed before another point in the past, "has been established" indicates an action that started in the past and continues to the present or has relevance to the present. The correct choice depends on the intended meaning and the context.

What is the difference between "was established" and "had been established"?

"Was established" describes a simple past action. "Had been established" describes an action completed before another point in the past. For instance, "The school was established in 1900" vs. "The school "had been established" for 50 years before the new wing was added."