had been explored

USAGE SUMMARY

"had been explored" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is commonly used in the past perfect passive tense to describe a past action or state that was finished before another past action or time. It can also be used to show that something was already known or understood at a certain point in the past. Example: The cave had been explored by many scientists before the new discoveries were made. In this sentence, "had been explored" suggests that the exploration of the cave was completed before the new discoveries were made. It also implies that the cave was already known and studied before the new discoveries were made.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

It had been explored little until the 1990s, though early scientific explorations surrounding the sand sea had begun by the early 20th century.

Earth-Science Reviews

The Mount Katmai region had been explored in 1898.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He said "every avenue" had been explored in the hospital's attempt to save him.

The Guardian

"I thought something new had been explored and presented," Poots said.

The New Yorker

Tonal harmony had been explored, expanded and chromatically thickened, many composers felt, to the point of inertia.

The New York Times - Arts

One financial institution based in Bahrain, which was unwilling to be named, said it would not apply to the courts unless all other avenues had been explored.

The Guardian - Money

The WNEW decision was mutual and amicable, said Mr. Scelsa and a station spokesman, who both added that avenues had been explored to keep the show going.

The New York Times - Arts

The anamorphic effect had been explored by 19th-century scientists and Renaissance painters, including Holbein, who famously used it to embed secret symbols in "The Ambassadors" (1533).

The New York Times

But 74% said that nuclear power should not be considered as a solution for climate change before all other energy options had been explored.

The Guardian

Mars had been explored, the eight months that remained before he could see his family stretched ahead, and the days were taken up by only relatively monotonous tasks.

The New Yorker

Within this context new developments took place in branches of mathematics that had been explored at least since The Nine Chapters, attesting to a continuity of mathematical practice.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been explored" to clearly indicate that an action of exploration was completed before a specific point in the past. This helps establish a clear chronological sequence in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "had been explored" when a simpler past tense (e.g., "was explored") is sufficient. Overusing the past perfect can make your writing sound unnecessarily convoluted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been explored" functions as the past perfect passive form of the verb "explore". It indicates that an action of exploring was completed at some point before another point in the past. As Ludwig AI explains, it showcases the completed state of exploration.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

27%

Encyclopedias

24%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been explored" is a versatile and grammatically sound construction used in the past perfect passive tense. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It's commonly found in News & Media, Science, and Encyclopedias, indicating that an action of exploration was completed before a specific point in the past. When using this phrase, it's important to consider the tense and ensure it accurately reflects the chronological order of events. Alternatives include "was investigated" or "had undergone investigation", providing options for varying the expression. This phrase is a valuable tool for describing past events with precision and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was investigated

Uses a simple past passive construction instead of the past perfect passive.

was examined

Replaces "explored" with a synonym, maintaining a similar meaning of scrutiny.

had undergone investigation

Substitutes "explored" with "undergone investigation" to emphasize a formal inquiry.

had been researched

Replaces "explored" with "researched", focusing on a systematic study.

was delved into

Employs a more figurative expression with "delved into", suggesting a thorough investigation.

had been scrutinized

Replaces "explored" with "scrutinized" to emphasize a close and critical examination.

had been surveyed

Suggests a broader overview rather than an in-depth investigation.

was looked into

Offers a more informal alternative, implying a preliminary inquiry.

had been checked out

Presents a casual alternative, suggesting a brief or cursory examination.

had been scouted

Suggests a reconnaissance or preliminary search, differing slightly from thorough exploration.

FAQs

How to use "had been explored" in a sentence?

Use "had been explored" to describe an action of exploration that was completed before another point in the past. For example, "The island "had been explored" by the time the settlers arrived".

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

You can use alternatives like "was investigated", "was examined", or "had undergone investigation" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "had been explored" or "was explored"?

"Had been explored" indicates that the exploration happened and finished before another action in the past. "Was explored" simply indicates that the exploration happened at some point in the past without specifying its relation to another past event.

What's the difference between "had been explored" and "had explored"?

"Had been explored" is in the passive voice, indicating that something was explored by someone. "Had explored" is in the active voice, indicating that someone had done the exploring.