had been expressed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been expressed" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something was communicated or articulated in the past, often in relation to a specific context or subject. Example: "The concerns about the project had been expressed during the last meeting, but no action was taken."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Concerns had been expressed and warnings issued some months ago.

The Guardian - Opinion

Such concerns had been expressed even before August's chilling events.

The Guardian - Opinion

Many shared the idealism as well as the focus on taste that had been expressed by guest speakers in the Intensive.

Yale University

Indeed, the notion of a long period of cultural darkness had been expressed by Petrarch even earlier.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The 17-year-old praised the support that had been expressed by thousands of people via social media.

Independent

To develop resistance against the above pest, ASAL had been expressed in mustard both in constitutive and phloem tissue specific manner.

Plant Science

"If the need to go to war had been expressed in terms of Christianity versus barbarism, that's the kind of argument he would have listened to".

The New York Times

Some doubts had been expressed over whether Parker's combative, all-energy style would be effective at international level, though the player himself has conceded a willingness to adapt.

The Guardian - Sport

But Colonel Marrs also said such sentiments had been expressed by other members of the unit and were not uncommon among troops in combat.

The New York Times

The select committee inquiry was launched in April after concerns had been expressed about an increase in prejudice and violence against Jewish communities in the UK.

The Guardian

Rudy Bednar, an executive producer at ABC, responded that the Catholic view had been expressed in the documentary by various evangelicals the producers had consulted.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been expressed" when you want to emphasize that something was communicated or articulated at a specific point in the past and continues to be relevant.

Common error

Avoid using "had been expressed" when referring to present or future actions. Ensure the context clearly indicates a past event that has relevance to the current situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been expressed" functions as a passive perfect construction, indicating that something was communicated or articulated at a time before another point in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been expressed" is a grammatically correct and frequently used construction that indicates something was communicated or articulated at a point in the past. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's commonly used across News & Media, Science, and Academic contexts. While it maintains a generally neutral to formal tone, it's crucial to use it correctly in relation to past events. Consider alternatives such as "were communicated" or "were articulated" depending on the specific context. Remember to ensure that the tense aligns with the timeline of events you're describing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been articulated

Focuses on the clarity and thoroughness of the expression in the past.

were communicated

Uses a different verb to convey the action of making something known.

were articulated

Emphasizes the clear and distinct expression of something.

had been voiced

Specifically refers to the act of speaking or verbalizing something previously.

were voiced

Implies that something was said aloud.

were stated

Suggests a formal declaration of something.

were conveyed

Focuses on the successful transmission of information.

were put forward

Indicates that something was presented for consideration.

were revealed

Suggests something was made known, often after being hidden.

were disclosed

Implies making something known that was previously private.

FAQs

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

Use "had been expressed" to indicate that a thought, feeling, or idea was communicated at some point in the past. For example, "Concerns about the budget "had been expressed" during the meeting."

What are some alternatives to "had been expressed"?

You can use alternatives like "were communicated", "were articulated", or "were voiced" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "had been expressed" and "were expressed"?

"Had been expressed" indicates that the action of expressing occurred before a specific time in the past, while "were expressed" simply indicates the action occurred in the past.

When is it appropriate to use "had been expressed" over simpler past tenses?

Use "had been expressed" when you need to emphasize the sequence of past events, specifically that the expression occurred before another event or time frame you are referencing.