had been mentioned

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been mentioned" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer to something that was previously stated or referred to in a conversation or text. Example: "In the meeting, it was noted that the budget constraints had been mentioned in the previous report."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Ireland had been mentioned explicitly in June.

The Economist

A tsunami had been mentioned shortly after the first earthquake.

The Guardian

Nothing had been mentioned about an earlier attack.

The Guardian - Sport

He had been mentioned as a possible presidential contender.

The New York Times

That nickname had been mentioned for the first time.

The Guardian - Sport

He had been mentioned during recent political turmoil as a possible successor to General Onganía.

The New York Times

Was this was the anxiety that had been mentioned in the medical literature?

The Guardian

They did this for those important performance items that had been mentioned in the interview.

Harvard Business Review

Dr. Stoddart's name had been mentioned for the Nobel for years.

The New York Times - Science

Gingrich's name had been mentioned for health and human services secretary and secretary of state.

The Washington Post

A nature walk had been mentioned, and all were anxious to participate.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been mentioned", ensure that the context clearly establishes what was previously referred to. This avoids ambiguity and maintains clarity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "had been mentioned" without providing enough context for the reader to understand what is being referenced. Be specific to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been mentioned" functions as a passive perfect construction. It indicates that something was referred to or brought up at some point in the past before another action or time. This construction emphasizes that the mentioning occurred before something else, as evidenced by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

20%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been mentioned" is a common and grammatically sound way to refer to something previously discussed or alluded to. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across various contexts, particularly in news media and scientific writing. When using this phrase, it's essential to provide sufficient context to ensure clarity. Alternatives include "was previously stated" or "was referred to earlier", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was previously stated

Focuses on the act of stating something earlier.

was referred to earlier

Emphasizes a reference made at a prior time.

had been alluded to

Suggests an indirect or subtle reference.

was previously discussed

Highlights the act of discussing a topic before.

was brought up before

Indicates that a topic was raised in a past conversation.

had been touched upon

Implies a brief or superficial discussion.

was covered previously

Focuses on the act of covering or dealing with a topic earlier.

was hinted at before

Suggests a subtle or indirect indication.

was foreshadowed

Indicates something was suggested as a future event.

was indicated previously

Emphasizes a previous indication or sign.

FAQs

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

Use "had been mentioned" to refer to something that was previously brought up or discussed. For example, "The budget cuts "had been mentioned" in the last meeting, but no specific details were provided."

What are some alternatives to "had been mentioned"?

Alternatives include "was previously stated", "was referred to earlier", or "had been alluded to", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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

Both "was mentioned" and "had been mentioned" can be correct, but they indicate different time frames. "Was mentioned" refers to a past action, while "had been mentioned" refers to an action completed before another point in the past. For example, "It was mentioned yesterday" vs "It "had been mentioned" before the meeting began."

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

"Was mentioned" implies a simple past action, whereas "had been mentioned" implies a past perfect action, meaning it occurred before another point in time. "The issue was mentioned during the presentation" suggests it occurred during, while "The issue "had been mentioned" prior to the presentation" suggests it was brought up beforehand.