had been increased

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been increased" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a verb phrase in the past perfect tense which is used to refer to an action which was completed before another action in the past. Example: "After the new policies were implemented, the company's profits had been increased by 20%."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Security had been increased.

The New York Times

It had been increased this week from $1,000.

The New York Times

Mr. Reverol said that security had been increased.

The New York Times

He said security had been increased at each of the stadium's eight spiral ramps during halftime.

The New York Times

By 1982 it had been increased to 3percentt, with elimination set for 1985.

The New York Times

He said that while employee benefits had been eliminated, sales commissions had been increased.

The New York Times

Next, he found himself struggling to explain to taxpayers why vehicle fees had been increased.

The New York Times

But she said there had been increased numbers of children with significant disabilities.

The New York Times

One news agency reported that security measures had been increased in anticipation of such protests.

The New York Times - Arts

He said rents had been increased by as much as 40 percent.

The New York Times

Officials in several states said security for governors had been increased.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To maintain clarity, specify by how much or to what extent something "had been increased". For example, 'Security had been increased by 50%' is more informative than 'Security had been increased'.

Common error

Avoid using "had been increased" without providing context on what caused the increase or what the result of the increase was. Without this information, the sentence lacks impact and can be confusing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been increased" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect passive voice. Ludwig AI indicates that this construction accurately describes an action completed before another point in the past, indicating that something underwent augmentation or growth before a specified time.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Encyclopedias

12%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had been increased" is a verb phrase in the past perfect passive voice, indicating that something was made larger, more numerous, or more intense before a specified time in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage. It is commonly found in contexts such as News & Media, Encyclopedias, and Science. When using "had been increased", clarity is essential, specifying the extent and reason for the increase. Alternatives such as "had been raised" or "had been enhanced" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been widened

Focuses on the expansion of something in breadth.

had been broadened

Implies an expansion in scope or range.

had been enhanced

Suggests an improvement in quality or value.

had been heightened

Indicates an increase in intensity or degree.

had been augmented

Implies that something has been added to, increasing the quantity.

had been grown

Suggests an increase in size or number through natural development.

had been gained

Focuses on obtaining or acquiring more of something.

had been stepped up

Suggests an increase in effort or intensity.

had been raised

Implies an elevation in level or amount.

has gone up

Indicates an upward trend or increase in value.

FAQs

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

Use "had been increased" to describe a situation where something was made larger, more numerous, or more intense before a specific time in the past. Example: "By the time the audit occurred, the budget "had been increased" by 20%."

What are some alternatives to "had been increased"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "had been raised", "had been enhanced", or "had been augmented".

Which is correct, "had been increased" or "was increased"?

"Had been increased" is used to indicate that an action of increasing happened before another point in the past. "Was increased" simply describes an increase in the past without reference to another past event. For example, "The price was increased" versus "The price "had been increased" before the sale started".

What's the difference between "had been increased" and "has been increased"?

"Had been increased" refers to a past action completed before another event in the past, while "has been increased" refers to an action completed at some point before the present moment. "The security has been increased" versus "The security "had been increased" before the concert started".