had been previously documented

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been previously documented" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to information or events that have been recorded or noted before a certain point in time. Example: "The findings of the study had been previously documented in several academic journals."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

The students speculated it may have been to save paper, but the reason was not readily apparent; we were unable to tell from the Finding Aid whether the existence of these flyers had been previously documented at all.

Columbia University

When they compared these sites to 16 that had been previously documented, they found that their map had identified seven of them, most of which were associated with disease risk or drug sensitivity.

MIT Technology Review

Oyer was curious to know if a difference in the pay of male and female Uber drivers, which had been previously documented, could be partially explained by their "taste" for flexibility (that is, favoring flexibility over the chance to earn as much money as possible).

Princeton University

It had been previously documented to have syndactyly [8] but there was no report of loss of muscular strength.

Plosone

We searched first for rodents from Families Cricetidae and Muridae, as most mammals in which rapid morphological change had been previously documented were from these families.

Plosone

Parent-offspring transmission-wise, heritability of MetS components had been previously documented among Omani families with strong tendencies for higher BMI, lower HDL-C and larger body weight while higher triglycerides, diastolic BP, abdominal obesity and insulin resistance were more environmentally driven [14].

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Transmission bottlenecks should occur in natural populations of viruses and their profound effects on viral adaptation have been previously documented.

Infection, Genetics and Evolution

Although such Mn stimulation has been previously documented for phytoplankton photosynthesis44, it was unknown for Symbiodinium in hospite.

Nature

The design and implementation of such a system is not a trivial task and different solutions have been previously documented.

Industrial Agents Emerging Applications of Software Agents in Industry

According to our review of the literature, only 11 cases of spinal fibromatosis have been previously documented.

The Spine Journal

Although low-temperature barite precipitation has been previously documented in soils and paleosols, pedogenic barite precipitation remains poorly understood.

Sedimentary Geology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been previously documented" to refer to information that has been formally recorded or noted in an earlier time frame, ensuring clarity about the timeline of events. If you are not referring to a formal record, consider using "was already known" or similar phrases.

Common error

Avoid using "had been previously documented before," as "previously" already implies that the documentation occurred at an earlier time. Repeating "before" creates unnecessary redundancy. Use either "had been previously documented" or "had been documented before," but not both.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been previously documented" functions as a passive voice construction indicating that a particular piece of information or event was recorded or noted before a specific time in the past. As Ludwig AI explains, it refers to information or events that have been recorded or noted before a certain point in time.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

Academia

20%

News & Media

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been previously documented" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase that indicates prior recording or noting of information. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's suitable when discussing information already recorded before a specific point in time. Though grammatically correct, simpler alternatives might be suitable if the context is informal. Predominantly found in scientific and academic contexts, this phrase serves to establish context and provide a foundation by referring to established knowledge, with a more formal tone. To avoid redundancy, it's best not to use it with words like "before". Overall, it remains a valuable tool for precision and clarity in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was previously recorded

Replaces the passive voice with a more direct verb, focusing on the action of recording.

was documented before

Simplifies the phrase by removing "previously" and using "before" to indicate prior occurrence.

has been earlier documented

Changes from past perfect to present perfect tense, shifting the focus to the present relevance of the documentation.

was already known

Focuses on the state of knowledge rather than the act of documentation.

had been established earlier

Replaces "documented" with "established", suggesting a higher level of certainty or acceptance.

had been recognized before

Emphasizes the recognition or acknowledgement of something prior to the current context.

had been identified previously

Focuses on the act of identification as opposed to general documentation.

was on record previously

Uses the idiom "on record" to indicate that something has been officially documented.

had been chronicled before

Replaces "documented" with "chronicled", suggesting a detailed and historical record.

was historically recorded

Highlights the historical aspect of the documentation.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "had been previously documented" to sound more concise?

Consider using phrases such as "was already known" or "was previously recorded" for a more direct and concise statement.

What is the difference between "had been previously documented" and "has been previously documented"?

"Had been previously documented" refers to something that was documented before a specific point in the past, while "has been previously documented" indicates something that was documented before the present. The choice depends on the time frame you're referencing.

When is it appropriate to use "had been previously documented" in academic writing?

Use "had been previously documented" when you want to emphasize that information was recorded or noted before a particular event or study that you are discussing. This is useful for establishing context and showing the progression of knowledge.

Are there any situations where I should avoid using "had been previously documented"?

While grammatically correct, "had been previously documented" can sometimes sound overly formal or redundant. If the context is informal or if the prior documentation is already clear, simpler alternatives like "was already known" or "had been noted" may be more suitable.