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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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had been headquartered

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been headquartered" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate the location of an organization's main office or headquarters in the past. Example: "Before the merger, the company had been headquartered in New York City for over a decade."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

In 1982 Israel's invasion of southern Lebanon, where Fatah had been headquartered, presented a further crisis.

And Iran lost its close relationship with Hamas, which had been headquartered in Syria but refused to support its hosts.

News & Media

The Economist

But soon after arriving, Michael decided to visit the Castro — San Francisco's gay neighborhood, where XY had been headquartered — to see "what I would feel".

In all these countries he allegedly employed political bribery, and none granted occasional extradition requests from the United States and from Switzerland, where the IOS had been headquartered.

The center, which had been headquartered in Dubai for 10 years, closed those offices and shifted most of its operations to Geneva in June 2011.

News & Media

The New York Times

The low-key, practical Waddell oversaw purchasing, hiring, payroll, and bookkeeping from the home office, which moved from Leavenworth, Kansas (where the company had been headquartered since 1855), to St .Joseph, Missouri, the eastern starting point for the Pony Express.

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

YIVO has been headquartered in New York City since 1940.

Wiley is moving in stages from Manhattan, where it has been headquartered for nearly two centuries.

News & Media

The New York Times

The International Hydrographic Bureau was founded in 1921 in Monaco, where it has been headquartered through the years.

It has been headquartered in lofts in SoHo and TriBeCa, and its current location is in SoHo.

Dow Jones and The Journal have been headquartered in New York City for 112 years, and we want to be leaders" in the resettlement of the financial district.

News & Media

The New York Times
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been headquartered" to clearly indicate a past location of an organization's main office, especially when contrasting it with its current location. This helps avoid ambiguity about the organization's current operational base.

Common error

Avoid using "had been headquartered" when referring to a current location. This phrase indicates a past state, so use "is headquartered" or "has been headquartered" if the location is still current.

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

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

83%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been headquartered" functions as a past perfect passive construction, indicating that an entity's main office or headquarters was located in a specific place at some point in the past, often before another event or change. Ludwig's examples illustrate this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Encyclopedias

29%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

14%

Science

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been headquartered" is a grammatically sound past perfect phrase used to indicate the former location of an organization's headquarters. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It's most commonly found in news articles, encyclopedias, and formal business contexts, signaling a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, ensure you're referring to a past location and be mindful of tense consistency. Alternatives like "was formerly based" or "previously maintained headquarters" can be used for similar meanings. Remember to avoid using "had been headquartered" for current locations.

FAQs

How is "had been headquartered" different from "is headquartered"?

"Had been headquartered" indicates a past location of an organization's main office, while "is headquartered" indicates its current location. For example, "The company "had been headquartered" in New York, but now it's in London" shows a change in location.

What are some alternatives to "had been headquartered"?

Alternatives include "was formerly based", "previously maintained headquarters", or "used to be located at", depending on the context.

When should I use "had been headquartered" over "was headquartered"?

Use "had been headquartered" to emphasize that the headquarters was in a specific location before a certain point in time or before a change occurred. "Was headquartered" is more general and doesn't necessarily imply a subsequent change.

Can "had been headquartered" refer to a temporary location?

While technically possible, "had been headquartered" typically implies a more permanent or significant past location. For temporary locations, phrases like "was temporarily based" or "operated from" might be more appropriate.

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Source & Trust

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Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: