had been located

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been located" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something was found or discovered at a specific time in the past, often in relation to a previous event or situation. Example: "The missing artifact had been located in a remote cave after years of searching."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

His art had been located.

The New York Times - Arts

The creators had been located and debriefed.

The New Yorker

An arms cache had been located and destroyed.

The New York Times

But by late afternoon, most had been located.

The New York Times

In 2008, 300 businesses were based in Preston that had been located elsewhere in 1998.

The Guardian

Shortly before 8pm it was announced no one had been located.

The Guardian

On Monday Lancashire police confirmed the pair had been located and were "safe and well".

The Guardian

In 2003, when he learned that Saint-Exupéry's plane had been located, his suspicion was confirmed.

The New York Times

The family received a call early Friday that Mr. Iskyan's body had been located.

The New York Times

Half an hour later an update came: the subject had been located.

The Economist

But he said that eight people who were being sought had been located alive.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been located" to clearly indicate that something was found or its position was determined at a specific time in the past, particularly when it relates to a prior event or ongoing situation.

Common error

Avoid using "had been located" when simply stating a present location. Use "is located" or "was located" depending on the time frame you're referring to.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been located" functions as a passive perfect pluperfect construction, indicating that an action of locating or finding something was completed before another point in time in the past. Ludwig provides numerous examples where this phrase is used in describing events in news and historical contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Wiki

7%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Science

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been located" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to indicate that something was found or its location was determined before a specific time in the past. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's common in news and media contexts, but also appears in encyclopedias and wikis. When using this phrase, ensure that the sequence of past events is clear and that the tense aligns with the intended meaning. Consider alternatives like "was discovered" or "was found" for simpler phrasing, and avoid using it when referring to present locations. By understanding its proper usage and context, you can effectively communicate past discoveries in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was discovered

Focuses on the act of discovery, omitting the passive voice component.

was found

Simplifies the phrasing to a more basic expression of finding something.

had been detected

Emphasizes the detection aspect, suitable when something was found through specific means or technology.

had been identified

Highlights the act of identifying something, implying a process of recognition.

had been pinpointed

Suggests a precise determination of location.

had been unearthed

Implies digging up or discovering something hidden or buried.

had been tracked down

Highlights the effort involved in finding something after a search.

had been situated

Focuses on the placement or position of something.

had been established

Emphasizes the setting up or founding of something.

had been ascertained

Highlights the process of confirming or verifying something.

FAQs

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

"Had been located" indicates that something was found at a specific point in the past relative to another past event. "Was located" simply states the location at a particular time in the past.

What can I say instead of "had been located"?

You can use alternatives like "was discovered", "was found", or "had been identified" depending on the context.

How to use "had been located" in a sentence?

Use "had been located" to show that the act of finding or determining the place of something occurred before another action in the past. For example, "The missing documents had been located before the audit began".

Is "had been located" formal or informal?

The phrase "had been located" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its usage depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and sentence structure.