had been interrupted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been interrupted" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe an action that was ongoing in the past but was stopped by another action. Example: "The meeting had been interrupted by a sudden power outage, leaving everyone in the dark."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He frowned as if his train of thought had been interrupted.

The New Yorker

Production had been interrupted during the civil wars of the 15th and 16th centuries.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Both were looking to resume careers that had been interrupted variously by illness, injury and immaturity.

The New York Times - Sports

At points during the trial, his courtroom had been interrupted by applause from the police.

The New York Times

Even before we had to flee, their schooling had been interrupted.

The Guardian

As she bends over, Giannello, whose business with Peronella that morning had been interrupted, lifts her skirt from behind.

The New Yorker

Wilders's trial before the District Court of Amsterdam, which had been interrupted in late 2010, resumed in April.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In 1617 the Polish-Swedish conflict, which had been interrupted by an armistice in 1611, broke out again.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The group said its services to some 400,000 Sudanese had been interrupted by last week's expulsions.

The New York Times

There were a lot of calls, perhaps there were too many calls; his morning writing had been interrupted.

The New York Times - Books

Palmer's farewell round had been interrupted Friday by rain with his tee shot in the 13th fairway.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To emphasize the cause of the interruption, follow the phrase with 'by' and the cause. For example: 'The meeting had been interrupted by a fire alarm.'

Common error

Avoid using "was interrupted" when you need to emphasize that the interruption occurred within a past perfect context. "Was interrupted" simply describes a past event, while "had been interrupted" emphasizes the disruption of an ongoing past action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been interrupted" functions as a passive perfect construction, indicating that an action or state was ongoing in the past and was then stopped by another action. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use in various contexts. It highlights a sequence of events, where the interruption is emphasized as a completed action affecting a previous state.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Encyclopedias

19%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been interrupted" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to describe the disruption of an ongoing action or state in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread use. It is particularly common in news, encyclopedic, and scientific contexts, denoting a neutral register suitable for various forms of writing. When using the phrase, ensure it clearly indicates a sequence of past events and that you use it in passive voice. Consider alternatives such as "had been disrupted" or "had been halted" to add precision to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been disrupted

This alternative emphasizes a disturbance that temporarily halted something.

had been suspended

This implies a temporary cessation, often with the expectation of resumption.

had been halted

This suggests a complete stop, possibly temporary or permanent.

had been broken off

This indicates a more abrupt and possibly forceful stop.

had been terminated

This suggests a final and complete end to something.

had been discontinued

This implies that something was stopped and will not be continued.

had been interfered with

This suggests an external force or influence caused the disruption.

had been impeded

This means something was obstructed or hindered.

had been cut short

This emphasizes that something ended prematurely.

had been checked

This suggests the stop of something, but only temporary.

FAQs

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

Use "had been interrupted" to describe a past action that was ongoing until another event stopped it. For example, "The concert "had been interrupted" by a power outage".

What are some alternatives to "had been interrupted"?

Alternatives include "had been disrupted", "had been suspended", or "had been halted", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

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

Both are correct, but they have different meanings. "Was interrupted" describes a simple past event, while "had been interrupted" describes an action in progress that was stopped by another event, emphasizing the sequence of past actions.

What's the difference between "had been interrupted" and "was disrupted"?

"Had been interrupted" emphasizes that something was in progress before being stopped, while "was disrupted" simply indicates that something was disturbed or thrown into disorder. The former highlights the interruption of an ongoing action, whereas the latter focuses on the disruption itself.