had been foregone

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been foregone" is not correct in standard English usage.
The term "foregone" is typically used in the context of "foregone conclusion," meaning something that is certain to happen. Example: "The outcome of the election had been foregone, as the polls indicated a clear winner."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Therefore, the number of potential migrants can only increase today.And here is Stephen Roach:[R]ecent increases in minimum wages are a catch-up from previously slated hikes that had been foregone in the crisis.

The Economist

Permanent atrial fibrillation was defined as long standing atrial fibrillation in which cardioversion had failed or had been foregone, according to the ESC guidelines [25].

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"In consequence, large sums in penalties have been foregone," Avaaz states.

The Guardian

At the heart of most criticism is a concern over whether our usual mechanisms of quality control – in particular, stringent peer review – have been foregone in the interests of attaining financial gain.

Global Health Action

Even if the result has long been foregone, few campaigns have ever told us so much about our political leaders, above all on the question of Iraq.

The Guardian

Had the revenue been foregone through a reduction in business taxes or income taxes, affected taxpayers would have realized an increase in their after-tax income, which could have been spent on additional goods and services.

Huffington Post

In early 1994, he criticized a party decision to establish a personal expense account for Manning at a time when other Reform MPs had been asked to forego parliamentary perquisites.

Wikipedia

Participants found that culturally meaningful, familiar, and comforting foods had to be foregone or drastically reduced, new foods had to be accommodated, and food quantity became a source of concern.

Diabetes Care

She does not explain how much consumption would have to be foregone.

Huffington Post

In each place, a small group began a hunger strike pledging to forego food until their goal of political unity had been achieved.

The Guardian

"The weather was the theme upon which we hinged an item for our morning edition, but we have been forced to forego the infliction of it upon the public, by the proceedings of the Boston Jubilee," the editors wrote.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, substitute "had been foregone" with more common phrases like "had been abandoned" or "had been waived" to ensure the intended meaning is easily understood.

Common error

Avoid using "had been foregone" to describe something simply given up. "Foregone" is usually part of "foregone conclusion", so using alternative phrases will avoid confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been foregone" is a passive construction using the auxiliary verb 'had been' and the past participle 'foregone.' However, its usage deviates from standard English, where 'foregone' predominantly appears in the idiom 'foregone conclusion.' According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is not considered correct in standard English usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been foregone" presents grammatical challenges and is not considered standard English usage. While 'foregone' appears, it's most commonly associated with 'foregone conclusion'. Ludwig AI suggests opting for more conventional alternatives like "had been abandoned" or "had been waived" to ensure clarity and effective communication. The phrase's rare occurrence and questionable grammatical status make it advisable to choose alternative expressions in most contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been abandoned

Implies a complete desertion or relinquishment of something previously considered or started.

had been relinquished

Suggests a voluntary giving up of a right, claim, or possession.

had been forfeited

Indicates a loss due to a rule violation, neglect, or some other failure.

had been waived

Means to voluntarily refrain from using or insisting on something, like a right or claim.

had been ceded

Implies formally giving up possession or control of something, often territory or rights.

had been surrendered

Suggests yielding to an opponent or giving something up under compulsion.

had been forsworn

Means to have formally rejected or abandoned something, often an oath or promise.

had been dropped

Implies discontinuing or ceasing to pursue something, like a plan or idea.

had been dismissed

Suggests rejecting something as unworthy of consideration.

had been superseded

Indicates being replaced by something newer or more effective.

FAQs

What does "had been foregone" mean?

The phrase "had been foregone" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The word 'foregone' is most commonly used in the expression 'foregone conclusion', implying something is inevitable. Alternatives such as "had been abandoned" or "had been waived" are better choices depending on the context.

Is "had been foregone" grammatically correct?

No, the phrasing "had been foregone" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. While 'foregone' exists, it's usually found in the phrase 'foregone conclusion'. Using alternatives provides greater clarity.

How can I use "had been foregone" correctly in a sentence?

It's best to avoid the phrase "had been foregone" altogether due to its awkwardness and lack of common usage. Instead, opt for clearer alternatives like "had been abandoned", "had been waived", or "had been sacrificed" depending on the specific meaning you intend to convey.

What are some alternatives to "had been foregone"?

Depending on the context, you can replace "had been foregone" with phrases such as "had been abandoned", "had been waived", "had been sacrificed", or "had been relinquished".