had been nominated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been nominated" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone was nominated for something in the past, often in relation to awards or positions. Example: "She was thrilled to learn that she had been nominated for the prestigious award."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Frozen" had been nominated for a Tony.

The New Yorker

Again, no other candidate had been nominated.

The New York Times

She had been nominated several times but never chosen.

The New York Times

Hoskins had been nominated for Mrs Henderson Presents.

Independent

Dr. Kim had been nominated by President Obama in March.

The New York Times

"Black and Blue" had been nominated for 10 awards.

The New York Times

Oh, and "The Gatekeepers" had been nominated for an Oscar.

The Washington Post

"Antigona" had been nominated for Outstanding Production and Outstanding Performer.

The New York Times

"Knife Skills" had been nominated for Best Documentary (Short Subject).

The New Yorker

I wish Kristen Wiig had been nominated for Best Actress.

The New Yorker

"Suppose I had been nominated to the D.C. Circuit in 1995, and Merrick had been nominated when I was, in 1999.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the context clearly indicates what the subject was nominated for. Avoid ambiguity by specifying the award, position, or recognition in question.

Common error

Avoid using "has been nominated" when referring to a nomination that occurred and concluded entirely in the past. Use "had been nominated" to correctly indicate past perfect tense.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been nominated" functions as a past perfect passive construction. It describes a state of having been nominated that existed before another point in time in the past. This is confirmed by Ludwig, which provides numerous examples of its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Academia

20%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Science & Research

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been nominated" is a grammatically correct and frequently used past perfect passive construction. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase effectively conveys that a nomination occurred before a specific point in the past. It is particularly common in "News & Media" and academic contexts, maintaining a neutral register suitable for various writing styles. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly defines what the subject was nominated for and avoid using incorrect tenses. Alternatives such as "was nominated" or "received a nomination" may be suitable depending on the desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was nominated

Uses the simple past passive voice instead of the past perfect passive.

received a nomination

Replaces the passive voice with an active construction using "received".

previously nominated

Emphasizes that the nomination occurred before the current time.

had a nomination

Indicates possession of a nomination in the past.

once nominated

Implies a previous nomination at some point in time.

had been shortlisted

Suggests selection from a larger group to a smaller, more exclusive list.

had been put forward

Uses 'put forward' as a synonym for 'nominated'.

was in contention

Indicates that someone was being considered.

had been in the running

Suggests being considered for something without explicitly stating a nomination.

had vied for

Implies competition for a position or award.

FAQs

How do I use "had been nominated" in a sentence?

Use "had been nominated" to describe a nomination that happened before a specific point in the past. For example, "By the time the awards ceremony started, she "had been nominated" for three different categories".

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

"Was nominated" indicates a simple past event. "Had been nominated" indicates an event completed before another point in the past. The latter emphasizes the sequence of events and the completion of the nomination before something else occurred.

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

You can use alternatives like "received a nomination", "was nominated", or "had a nomination" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "had been nominate" instead of "had been nominated"?

No, "had been nominate" is grammatically incorrect. The correct past participle form of "nominate" is "nominated". Therefore, the correct phrase is ""had been nominated"".