had been influenced

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been influenced" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone or something was affected by external factors or influences in the past. Example: "Her decision to pursue a career in art had been influenced by her childhood experiences with painting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She had been influenced by nobody.

The New Yorker

Groh seemed to chafe at the suggestion that he had been influenced by Cox.

The New York Times - Sports

She told me that her writing had been influenced by the novels of Henry Miller.

The New Yorker

Many voters said after casting their ballots that they had been influenced by the scandals.

The New York Times

Mr. Bogdanos did not ask her directly whether she had been influenced to alter her testimony.

The New York Times

The French regulator denied that it had been influenced in any way by the finance ministry.

The New York Times

Mr. Sharpton urged leniency, asserting that Mr. Riccardi's actions had been influenced by distorted news coverage.

The New York Times

But both denied that they had been influenced by the Bush campaign.

The New York Times

And he said respondents had been influenced by the false information.

The New York Times

The Iroquo is prophet had been influenced by the teaching of Quaker missionaries.

The New Yorker

The report suggested that Protasiuk had been influenced by an incident in 2008.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been influenced", ensure that the subject and the influencing factor are clearly identified in the sentence. This prevents ambiguity and strengthens the statement.

Common error

Avoid vague statements about influences. Always specify what or who "had been influenced" by what. Instead of saying 'The decision had been influenced', specify 'The decision had been influenced by the consultant's report'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been influenced" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that a subject received influence from an external source. Ludwig AI shows numerous examples where it describes changes in behavior, decisions, or styles due to external factors.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

24%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

16%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been influenced" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate that something or someone has been affected by an external source in the past. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase appears frequently in news and media, scientific publications, and general knowledge resources like Wikipedia. When writing, make sure to clearly identify both the subject and the influencing factor. Using this phrase effectively adds clarity and context to your writing, providing a more complete picture of cause and effect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was affected by

Simple change in phrasing with direct synonym.

was impacted by

Replaces 'influenced' with a synonym, focusing on the effect of the influence.

was shaped by

Emphasizes the formative nature of the influence.

was molded by

Highlights the transformative effect of the influence.

was swayed by

Suggests a persuasive form of influence.

was guided by

Implies a directional influence.

was determined by

Focuses on the decisive nature of the influence.

was predisposed by

Indicates an inclination caused by the influence.

was conditioned by

Suggests a long-term and pervasive influence.

was under the sway of

Emphasizes the power or control exerted by the influence.

FAQs

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

Use "had been influenced" to show that something or someone's actions, thoughts, or development were affected by an external force. For example, 'Her artistic style "had been influenced" by Van Gogh's paintings'.

What are some alternatives to "had been influenced"?

Alternatives include "was affected by", "was impacted by", or "was shaped by", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "was influenced" instead of "had been influenced"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "had been influenced" implies the influence occurred at some point in the past before another past action or time. "Was influenced" simply indicates past influence without specifying a relative time frame.

What's the difference between "had been influenced" and "was inspired by"?

"Had been influenced" suggests a broader impact on someone's development or actions, while "was inspired by" implies a more specific spark or motivation derived from something. Influence can be subtle or pervasive, while inspiration is usually a more direct and conscious effect.