had been explained

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been explained" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something was explained in the past before another event or time reference. Example: "The concept had been explained thoroughly during the previous meeting, so everyone was on the same page."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Maybe if depression had been explained to me earlier......

The Guardian

Spokeswoman Andrea Hiller says the issues had been explained to the passenger three times "before they arrived at the airport".

The Guardian - Business

But, with a guilty laugh, Nadhamuni recalled something that had been explained to him in childhood about elephant-taming.

The New Yorker

By now it had been explained that Clinton's shirt was not a tribute to Satan but a gift from Mandela.

The New Yorker

The reservations mess, though in a sanitized way, had been explained to Scott Kirby, the airline's president.

The New York Times

He said the "dangers and difficulties" of crossing swollen streams and rivers had been explained to them.

The Guardian

The solidification (S/S) results had been explained by means of the leaching and compressive strength of the solidification (S/S) geopolymers (solidified bodies) acquired.

Construction and Building Materials

The home secretary, Amber Rudd, said Horwell's finding of human error was "deeply troubling" but that she was pleased the causes had been explained.

The Guardian

Both patients had been explained all treatment options but favoured conservative treatment.

Strategies in Trauma and Limb Reconstruction

All participants provided informed, written consent after the study procedure had been explained.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

After adjustment, two months had average costs outside the 90% lower control limit lines, and the trend toward increasing costs had been explained by differences in patient acuity.

Duke University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been explained", ensure that the subject or concept being explained is clear to the reader. If ambiguity exists, rephrase for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "had been explained" when a simple past tense is sufficient. Using "was explained" is more appropriate when there is no need to emphasize the prior completion of the explanation before another past event. For example, instead of "The rules "had been explained", so everyone understood", consider "The rules were explained, so everyone understood".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been explained" functions as a past perfect passive construction. This grammatical structure is used to indicate that an action (in this case, explaining) was completed before a specific point in the past. Ludwig confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been explained" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig. It serves to communicate that something was clarified or understood before a particular point in the past. Its usage spans various contexts, with higher prevalence in science, news, and academic writing. While versatile, it's essential to ensure the proper tense and context to avoid errors, and to choose simpler alternatives like "was explained" when emphasizing the past perfect is unnecessary. According to Ludwig's analysis, the phrase commonly indicates the completion of an explanatory action before a specific time, and maintains a neutral to formal tone, fitting well in structured communication. The prevalence of the phrase is categorized as 'Very common' based on the number of examples found.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been clarified

Emphasizes the prior state of clarification using the past perfect passive.

was made clear

Uses a more direct and simple construction to express clarity.

was clarified

Uses a simpler past passive form instead of past perfect passive.

was elucidated

Replaces "explained" with a more formal synonym.

had been detailed

Focuses on the level of detail provided in the explanation.

had been communicated

Highlights the act of conveying information effectively.

had been outlined

Suggests a structured and concise explanation.

had been presented

Focuses on the act of presenting information rather than the understanding.

had been taught

Implies a learning environment where someone was instructed.

had been demonstrated

Suggests that understanding came through demonstration rather than verbal explanation.

FAQs

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

Use "had been explained" to indicate that something was clarified before a specific point in the past. For example, "The procedure "had been explained" before the experiment began".

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

"Had been explained" indicates that the explanation occurred and was completed before another event in the past. "Was explained" simply indicates that an explanation occurred at some point in the past. The choice depends on whether you need to emphasize the sequence of events.

What are some alternatives to "had been explained"?

You can use alternatives such as "was clarified", "had been clarified", or "was elucidated" depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it correct to say "had been explained"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. "Had been explained" is the past perfect passive form of "explain", and it's used to show that an action of explaining was completed before a certain time in the past.