had been exercised

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been exercised" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was performed or utilized in the past, often in a context related to rights, options, or physical activity. Example: "The option to purchase additional shares had been exercised by the investors before the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

Probabilistic treatment of risk had been exercised before to design flood defense.

Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries

When that limited function had been exercised, it immediately was put to death.

Cornell University

Executives were often able to sell shares as soon as the options had been exercised.

The Economist

We appreciate that in this instance Ms Shaheen may have felt that overcaution had been exercised.

The Guardian - Books

It was the first time the clause, which is rarely invoked, had been exercised after a film had finished shooting.

The New York Times

Mr. Miller could not be reached to comment, but Mr. Williams said none of the warrants had been exercised.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

Dr. Smaha was a runner and had been exercising before he collapsed, his family said.

The New York Times

My heart was going wild, beating really hard but different from if I had been exercising.

The Guardian - Sport

The driver, Barry M. Seltzer, 46, of Sarasota, told the police that he had been exercising "political expression".

The New York Times

A few months earlier he had been exercising at a gymnasium when he felt the pain.

Forbes

Mr Hendry said the government was "very comfortable" that Total had been exercising the emergency plan as agreed.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the use of a right, power, or option, use "had been exercised" to clearly indicate that the action occurred at a specific point in the past relative to another past event. For example, "The option to buy shares had been exercised before the company's valuation increased."

Common error

Avoid using "had been exercised" when an active voice construction is more direct and clear. For instance, instead of "The authority had been exercised by the manager", prefer "The manager had exercised the authority" when the actor is important.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been exercised" functions as a verb phrase in the passive perfect form. Ludwig provides examples demonstrating its use in describing actions, rights or powers that were performed or utilized before a specific time in the past.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

21%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

12%

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been exercised" is a grammatically correct passive perfect verb phrase used to indicate that an action, right, or power was utilized before a certain point in the past. As shown by Ludwig, it appears most frequently in News & Media, Science, and Academic sources. The phrase generally carries a neutral to formal tone, depending on the context. While the phrase is valid, it's important to consider if the active voice might provide a clearer and more direct construction. Ludwig AI confirms the usability of this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been implemented

Replaces "exercised" with "implemented", focusing on the action of putting a plan or system into effect.

had been utilized

Substitutes "exercised" with "utilized", highlighting the practical use of something.

had been applied

Replaces "exercised" with "applied", emphasizing the use of a method or principle.

had been invoked

Emphasizes the formal use of a rule or law, replacing "exercised".

had been put into effect

Replaces "exercised" with a more descriptive phrase, focusing on the action of making something operational.

had been carried out

Focuses on the completion of a task or action, substituting "exercised".

had been performed

Replaces "exercised" with "performed", highlighting the execution of a specific action or duty.

had been enacted

Emphasizes the formal implementation of a law or decree, replacing "exercised".

had been leveraged

Replaces "exercised" to emphasize using something to maximum advantage.

had been wielded

Suggests using power or influence, offering a different nuance than "exercised".

FAQs

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

Use "had been exercised" to indicate that a right, power, or ability was used at a specific time in the past before another event. For instance, "The veto power "had been exercised" before the law could take effect".

What are some alternatives to "had been exercised"?

You can use alternatives such as "had been implemented", "had been utilized", or "had been applied" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use the active or passive voice with "exercise"?

While "had been exercised" (passive voice) is grammatically correct, using the active voice can often make your writing more direct and concise. For example, instead of "The option had been exercised by the company", you could say "The company had exercised the option".

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

"Had been exercised" indicates an action completed before another point in the past, while "was exercised" simply indicates an action completed in the past. For example, "The right "had been exercised" before the deadline" implies a sequence of events, while "The right "was exercised"" simply states the right was used.