had been prescribed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been prescribed" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something was prescribed in the past and may still be relevant or applicable. Example: "The medication had been prescribed to help manage her symptoms more effectively."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The most commonly inappropriately prescribed medication was ticlopidine, which had been prescribed for 107 patients (6.3%).

BMC Geriatrics

She had been prescribed 800 milligrams.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

So, it's a compromise, as had been prescribed by circumstances.

The New Yorker

Her mother had been prescribed thalidomide to prevent morning sickness.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Lopez had been prescribed a number of drugs, including Ambien, a sleeping pill.

The Guardian

A chubby child, he had been prescribed the medication to lose weight.

The New Yorker

He was struggling after a recent relapse and had been prescribed an antidepressant.

The New York Times

A further 10% of teachers said they had been prescribed anti-depressants to help them cope.

The Guardian

They had been prescribed the drugs by local practitioners for minor problems.

The Guardian

He said he only slept once he had been prescribed sleeping pills by the doctor.

The Guardian

He had been prescribed tranquillisers to help with the constant anxiety from which he suffers.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been prescribed" when you want to emphasize that a prescription occurred in the past and is still relevant to the current situation or outcome.

Common error

Avoid using "had been prescribed" when simply stating a past prescription without current relevance. Use "was prescribed" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been prescribed" functions as a passive past perfect construction, indicating that a prescription was given before a specific point in time. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

53%

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had been prescribed" is a grammatically sound and very common construction used to indicate a past prescription that holds relevance in the present context. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage. It is frequently found in scientific and news media contexts. While "was prescribed" refers to a single past event, "had been prescribed" emphasizes a past action with ongoing implications. Alternatives like "was recommended" or "received a prescription" can be used depending on the desired nuance. When using this phrase, ensure the past perfect tense is appropriate and that the past prescription is still relevant to the current situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was prescribed

Slightly more direct and less emphatic about the past action.

were prescribed

Indicates multiple subjects received the prescription.

had been recommended

Focuses on the suggestion rather than the official prescription.

had received a prescription

Emphasizes the act of receiving the prescription.

had been ordered

Suggests a more authoritative directive, not necessarily medical.

had been advised to take

Highlights the advice given rather than the prescription itself.

had been given medication

Focuses on the act of administering the medication.

required medication

Shifts the focus to necessity rather than prescription.

was under medication

Focuses on the state of being medicated.

had to take

Highlights obligation without mentioning the prescription.

FAQs

How is "had been prescribed" used in a sentence?

The phrase "had been prescribed" indicates that something was prescribed in the past and is relevant to the current context. For example: "The patient had been prescribed antibiotics for the infection."

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

"Was prescribed" generally refers to a single past event, while "had been prescribed" indicates a past action with present relevance. "The patient "was prescribed" medication last year" versus "The patient "had been prescribed" medication, which they are still taking."

What are some alternatives to "had been prescribed"?

Depending on the context, alternatives include "was recommended", "was ordered", or "received a prescription".

Is it correct to say "had been prescribed"?

Yes, "had been prescribed" is grammatically correct and commonly used to indicate that a medication, treatment, or device was prescribed at some point in the past and is often still relevant or ongoing.