had been posted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been posted" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is the past perfect tense and is used to describe an action that was completed before a certain point in the past. Example: The notice had been posted on the bulletin board before anyone arrived at the meeting.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

His father had been posted elsewhere then.

The New Yorker

He had been posted missing in 1941.

The Guardian - Books

and their solutions had been posted promptly but unofficially here.

University of California, Berkeley

Within days, more than a thousand messages had been posted.

The New York Times

Several dozen names had been posted outside the hospital.

The New York Times

And indeed, a new foliage report had been posted.

The New York Times - Travel

02/06/02 - A new corrected version of the homework #2 handout had been posted.

University of California, Berkeley

Hours later, the students received a message saying the letter had been posted in error.

The New York Times

What video had been posted online captured the chaotic scene during the raid.

The New York Times

Within hours, the pictures had been posted on blogs and social networking sites.

The New York Times

These stories reminded me of a series of messages that had been posted anonymously on LetsRun.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been posted", ensure the context clearly establishes the past action and its relevance to a subsequent event. For example, "The warning signs had been posted before the accident occurred."

Common error

Avoid using "had been posted" when a simple past tense ("was posted") is sufficient, especially if the sentence doesn't require emphasizing the completion of the action before another point in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been posted" functions as a past perfect passive construction. It indicates that an action (posting) was completed at some point before another action or time in the past. Ludwig confirms the grammatical correctness and common usage of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Academia

14%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Science

19%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had been posted" is a grammatically sound and commonly used past perfect passive construction, as affirmed by Ludwig. It denotes an action of posting that occurred before a specific point in the past. Predominantly found in "News & Media" and "Academia", the phrase maintains a neutral register and serves to provide background information or context. Ludwig examples confirm that it is used to describe making information available, stationing personnel, or displaying notices before another event occurred. When using "had been posted", ensure the context clearly establishes the sequence of events, or use a simple past tense ("was posted") if the timing isn't critical.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been made available

Emphasizes the action of making something accessible or ready for use.

had been released

Highlights the act of formally issuing or unveiling something for public consumption.

was published

Focuses specifically on the act of making something (like a document or article) available to the public.

was broadcast

Relates to the transmission of information or content to a wide audience.

was displayed

Focuses on visual presentation, such as showing information on a screen or sign.

was presented

Highlights the act of showing or offering something formally.

was stationed

Highlights the placement of personnel or resources at a specific location.

had been assigned

Focuses on delegation or allocation of a task, role, or resource.

had been dispatched

Implies something was sent out or forwarded to a destination.

was installed

Implies setting up equipment or software so it is ready for use.

FAQs

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

Use "had been posted" to indicate that something was made available or displayed before a specific time in the past. For example, "By the time I arrived, the agenda "had been posted" online."

What's a simple alternative to "had been posted"?

Depending on the context, you could use "was posted" or "was published". However, "had been made available" emphasizes accessibility before a point in the past.

Is "had been posted" grammatically correct?

Yes, "had been posted" is grammatically correct. It's the past perfect passive voice, indicating an action completed before another point in the past, as confirmed by Ludwig.

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

Use "had been posted" when you want to emphasize that the posting action was completed before another action in the past. If the sequence isn't important, "was posted" is sufficient.