had been implicated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been implicated" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone was involved in a situation, often in a negative or criminal context, at some point in the past. Example: "The investigation revealed that several individuals had been implicated in the scandal."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

And they didn't say they told him a second reporter had been implicated.

The Economist

It was the third human death the whale had been implicated in since 1991.

The New York Times - Arts

They said Tan had been implicated in match-fixing cases dating to 1999.

The New York Times - Sports

"I was just saying to myself, everyone who had been implicated thus far in Balco had not made it.

The New York Times - Sports

"My cousin had been implicated in an attempted coup, but I was never charged with anything," he says.

The Guardian - Arts

Tarasco would not comment to reporters on whether he thought he had been implicated by Corey's statements about smoking marijuana.

The New York Times - Sports

Millken said many Chinese nationals, working as development officials with legitimate jobs, had been implicated in the growing trade.

The Guardian

Coe reacted with genuine horror to the news that Diack Sr had been implicated by French police.

The Guardian - Sport

For the second time in five years, Organic Pastures had been implicated in an outbreak of E. coli O157 H7.

The New Yorker

The governor resigned in March, shortly after The New York Times disclosed that he had been implicated in that investigation.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Ramos, too, has been implicated.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been implicated", ensure that you provide context about the nature of the involvement or the specific situation to avoid ambiguity. It's useful for indicating a past state of involvement that might have ongoing consequences.

Common error

Avoid using "had been implicated" without providing supporting evidence or sources. Overstating someone's involvement can lead to defamation or misrepresentation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been implicated" functions as a passive construction indicating that someone or something was involved in a particular situation, often one that is negative or problematic. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable phrase. The examples provided show its use across various contexts from news reports to scientific articles.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

45%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been implicated" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote past involvement, often in a negative context. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. It appears most often in News & Media and Science sources, signalling a neutral to formal register. To write well with this phrase, ensure supporting evidence is provided, and understand that alternatives like "was involved in" and "was connected to" offer subtle variations in meaning. Overall, it’s a valuable tool for precise communication about past connections and events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was involved in

Indicates participation or engagement in an activity or event.

was connected to

Focuses on a relationship or link, without necessarily implying wrongdoing.

was linked to

Similar to "was connected to", suggesting an association or relationship.

was tied to

Suggests a strong and direct connection, possibly of a binding nature.

was associated with

Highlights an association or connection, potentially without direct involvement.

was found to be in collusion with

Highlights a secret agreement or conspiracy with others.

was suspected of

Implies a belief or conjecture of involvement, often in wrongdoing.

was alleged to have participated in

Signifies a formal accusation or claim of involvement.

was rumored to be involved in

Indicates an unconfirmed report or speculation about participation.

was known to have knowledge of

Focuses on awareness or information, potentially without direct participation.

FAQs

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

Use "had been implicated" to indicate that someone or something was involved, often negatively, in a past event. For example: "The investigation revealed that several officials "had been implicated" in the corruption scandal."

What are some alternatives to "had been implicated"?

Alternatives include "was involved in", "was connected to", or "was linked to", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "had been implicated" and "was suspected of"?

"Had been implicated" suggests a degree of involvement or connection, whereas "was suspected of" indicates a belief or conjecture without confirmed evidence.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "had been implicated"?

The phrase itself is in the passive voice. Whether to rephrase into the active voice depends on the context and desired emphasis. Using active voice might improve clarity but could shift the focus away from the individual or entity that "had been implicated".