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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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had been forwarded

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

"had been forwarded" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that has been sent to another person or place at a previous time. Example: The package had been forwarded to the post office earlier that morning.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The intelligence had been "forwarded to NSA", the document explained.

News & Media

The Guardian

By noon in Beijing, the post had been forwarded about 5,000 times.

News & Media

The New York Times

By Tuesday afternoon it had been forwarded about 3,700 times.

News & Media

The New York Times

A police spokesman said only that the complaint had been forwarded to Internal Affairs.

News & Media

The New York Times

He said their cases had been forwarded to prosecutors across the country.

News & Media

The Guardian

The analysis, completed recently, had been forwarded to US and UK authorities.

News & Media

The Guardian

This information had been forwarded to our reporter but was not included in the published article.

News & Media

The Guardian

"They told me it was because the incident had been forwarded to the police".

News & Media

The Guardian

Mr. Wander and Mr. Singh carried only their shaving kits, because their luggage had been forwarded.

News & Media

The New York Times

The Observer said that the accusations, which dated back to the 1980s, had been forwarded to the Vatican.

News & Media

The New York Times

Someone at the Algonquin had pencilled "Sherry-Netherland" on it, and it had been forwarded to Holland.

News & Media

The New Yorker
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been forwarded", ensure the context clearly indicates who forwarded the item and to whom it was forwarded for better clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "had been forwarded" when the action is still ongoing or refers to the present. Use "has been forwarded" instead.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

89%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been forwarded" functions as a verb phrase in the passive perfect tense. It indicates that an action of forwarding was completed before a certain point in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound and suitable for use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Academia

18%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been forwarded" is a grammatically correct and frequently used passive perfect verb phrase. Ludwig AI confirms its usability across various contexts. It is predominantly found in news and media, academic, and scientific writing. While the phrase is generally neutral in tone, it is crucial to ensure clarity about who forwarded the item and to whom. Alternative phrases such as "sent on" or "transmitted" can be used depending on the specific context. Understanding these nuances will help ensure accurate and effective communication.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "had been forwarded" to sound more active?

You can use alternatives like "sent on", "transmitted", or "referred", depending on the context.

What is the difference between "had been forwarded" and "has been forwarded"?

"Had been forwarded" indicates an action completed in the past relative to another past event, while "has been forwarded" indicates an action completed in the past with relevance to the present.

Is it correct to say "the email had been forward"?

No, the correct phrase is "the email had been forwarded". "Forwarded" is the past participle form of the verb "forward" and is required in the passive perfect construction.

In what situations is it appropriate to use "had been forwarded"?

Use "had been forwarded" when describing a situation where something was sent to another destination or person before a specific point in the past. For example, "The complaint had been forwarded to internal affairs before the investigation began".

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Source & Trust

89%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: