had been informed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been informed" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone received information at some point in the past, often in a context where the timing of the information is relevant to the current situation. Example: "She had been informed about the changes in the schedule before the meeting started."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I am of the opinion that in 1942 all naval officers had been informed about it.

Yale University

He had been informed about my predicament.

The Guardian

Mr. Mbeki had been informed earlier.

The New York Times

Israel said Russia had been informed before the overnight attack.

The New York Times

All relevant regulators had been informed, she said.

The Guardian

Holly and Jessica's families had been informed, he added.

The Guardian

The couples had been informed, the centre said.

The Guardian

Most were volunteers who had been informed of the risks.

The New York Times - Books

Police said the health and safety executive had been informed.

The Guardian

The households targeted had been informed in advance.

Independent

From the evidence herein, the accused Tendo had been informed and advised" about the specifications.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been informed" when you want to emphasize that the information was received at a specific point in the past and is relevant to the current situation.

Common error

Avoid using "had been informed" when a simpler past tense like "was informed" or "learned" is sufficient. Overusing the past perfect can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been informed" functions as the past perfect passive voice of the verb 'inform'. It indicates that someone received information at a point prior to another time in the past. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this construction is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

12%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been informed" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to indicate that someone received information prior to a specific time in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread usage. It is most frequently found in news and media, academic, and scientific contexts. When writing, consider the context and the need to emphasize the timing of the information received. Use alternatives like "was notified" or "was told" when a simpler past tense is sufficient.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been notified

Focuses on the fact that an official notification process occurred in the past.

was notified

Emphasizes the act of receiving official notification.

was made aware

Focuses on the process of becoming conscious or knowledgeable about something.

was apprised of

Implies a formal and detailed explanation was provided.

was advised

Suggests that counsel or recommendations were given.

was told

A simpler, more direct way of saying someone received information.

had notice

Highlights the fact that a warning or heads-up was given.

had knowledge of

Highlights having information about something without necessarily being explicitly informed.

was filled in

Implies receiving comprehensive information, often after being previously uninformed.

was kept in the loop

Indicates that someone was regularly updated on developments.

FAQs

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

You can use "had been informed" to indicate that someone received information at a specific time in the past, like "She had been informed of the meeting cancellation before she left the office."

What's a more direct alternative to "had been informed"?

Alternatives include "was told", "was notified", or simply "learned", depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "was informed" and "had been informed"?

"Was informed" generally describes a single event in the past, whereas "had been informed" implies a past action that has relevance to a later event. For example: "She was informed of the change" vs. "She had been informed of the change, so she wasn't surprised."

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

Use "had been informed" when emphasizing that the act of informing happened before another event in the past. This clarifies the sequence of events.