had been illustrated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been illustrated" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something was depicted or explained in the past, often in relation to a previous point in time. Example: "The concept had been illustrated in the previous chapter, making it easier to understand the current discussion."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Barcelona's potency had been illustrated in the 7-0 demofition of Celtic in September.

The Guardian - Sport

Goscinny died before the book had been illustrated, and Uderzo was extremely reluctant to finish the job.

The Guardian - Books

Possibly the place had lingered on the market because the listing had been illustrated by photographs of empty rooms and an ugly wall-mounted shelving unit.

The New York Times

If "Gatsby" had been illustrated by Edward Gorey and Jay had been a pinch more kinky, Daisy would have drowsed exclusively in crepe de Chine dresses vaguely resembling French maid costumes, all made by a designer no one had heard of.

The New York Times

Prior to the highly publicised killing of a woman and her four children last week, this pattern had been illustrated by a report from B'Tselem, the leading Israeli human rights organisation, which stated that 106 Palestinians were killed between February 27 and March 3. Fifty-four of them were civilians, and 25 were under 18 years of age.

The Guardian - Opinion

Benefits and challenges of variable-compression-ratio (VCR) spark-ignition engines had been illustrated, examined, and critically reviewed by Roberts [11].

International Journal of Energy and Environmental Engineering

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

By 1942, Rockwell had been illustrating professionally for thirty years and was having a successful career.

Wikipedia

The 30 modern poems chosen have been illustrated in typographically complex ways.

The New York Times - Books

For years now the annual exam jamboree has been illustrated with pictures of successful girls.

The Guardian - Opinion

Nevertheless, the usefulness of ecumenical councils has been illustrated by both Vatican I and Vatican II.

Encyclopedia Britannica

This has been illustrated by a ruling from the Turkish constitutional court last month, banning the Kurdish Democratic Society party.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider if a more specific verb might be more appropriate depending on the context. For example, "had been demonstrated" if you are referring to a scientific principle.

Common error

Avoid using "had been illustrated" when the illustration is happening concurrently or in the future. "Is illustrated" or "will be illustrated" are more suitable in those contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been illustrated" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect passive voice. It indicates that something was illustrated or shown before a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable form.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

62%

News & Media

23%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been illustrated" is a grammatically sound past perfect passive construction, typically used to refer to something previously depicted or explained, as also confirmed by Ludwig AI. While most examples from Ludwig occur in science related articles and news media, implying a formal tone, it is crucial to ensure its tense aligns with the intended meaning—referring to actions completed before another point in the past. Consider related phrases such as "had been demonstrated" or "had been shown" to add precision, or to better align with the context. The phrase's relative infrequency suggests careful and deliberate usage in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been demonstrated

Replaces 'illustrated' with 'demonstrated', focusing on proof or evidence rather than visual representation.

had been shown

Substitutes 'illustrated' with 'shown', indicating a display or presentation of information.

had been depicted

Replaces 'illustrated' with 'depicted', emphasizing a visual portrayal or representation.

had been exemplified

Changes 'illustrated' to 'exemplified', highlighting a specific instance serving as a typical example.

had been clarified

Replaces 'illustrated' with 'clarified', focusing on making something easier to understand.

had been explained

Substitutes 'illustrated' with 'explained', indicating a detailed account or reason for something.

had been outlined

Changes 'illustrated' to 'outlined', emphasizing a summary or a basic structure.

had been presented

Replaces 'illustrated' with 'presented', focusing on a formal introduction or display.

had been portrayed

Substitutes 'illustrated' with 'portrayed', indicating a depiction or representation, often in a particular way.

had been evidenced

Changes 'illustrated' to 'evidenced', highlighting the provision of proof or indication.

FAQs

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

You can use "had been illustrated" to refer to something that was shown or explained previously. For example, "The concept "had been illustrated" in the previous chapter."

What are some alternatives to "had been illustrated"?

Alternatives include "had been demonstrated", "had been shown", or "had been depicted", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When should I use "had been illustrated" instead of "was illustrated"?

"Had been illustrated" indicates an action completed before another point in the past, while "was illustrated" simply describes an action in the past. For example, "The point "had been illustrated" before the meeting started", versus "The point "was illustrated" during the presentation."

Is "had been illustrated" formal or informal?

"Had been illustrated" is generally considered formal and suitable for academic, professional, and news contexts. More informal alternatives might include "was shown" or "was explained".