had been procured

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been procured" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was obtained or acquired in the past, often in a context where the timing of the acquisition is relevant. Example: "The necessary materials had been procured before the project commenced."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

"I did not suggest that these stories had been procured through hacking my phone".

The Guardian

They went downstairs, where lunch had been procured from a takeout spot.

The New Yorker

The bombers and bombs had been procured at enormous cost: they couldn't be left to rot.

The Guardian - Books

Several traders encouraged the investigators to record in documents that the ivory had been procured before the global trade ban was imposed 16 years ago.

The Guardian

Soon State Police cruisers could speed down the street toward a backhoe that had been procured to flip the news van back upright.

The New York Times - Sports

The admissions from the governor's office came after weeks of debilitating reports in the press, which had detailed irregularities in the way the home improvements had been procured.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

More than 100m doses have been procured as of December 2012; with an expected procurement of more than 70m doses in 2013.

Unicef

The main components of the facility have been procured and system design has been completed.

IFAC Proceedings Volumes

The Nb3Sn strand (overall 200 kg) has been procured at technical specification similar to ITER.

Fusion Engineering and Design

"Everything that was on the shelves a couple of days ago has been procured by various organizations," Mr. Rasmussen said.

The New York Times

Antibody cocaine esterases and simple binders have been procured, however, rates and/or affinities still need improvement before clinical trials are warranted.

Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been procured" when you want to emphasize that something was acquired or obtained at a specific point in the past, particularly in formal or official contexts. This clarifies the sequence of events.

Common error

Avoid using "had been procured" in casual conversation or informal writing. Simpler alternatives like "got" or "obtained" are often more appropriate and natural in those settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been procured" functions as a past perfect passive verb phrase. This construction indicates that an action (procuring) was completed before another point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had been procured" is a grammatically correct and commonly used past perfect passive construction signifying that something was acquired or obtained before a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is indeed usable. Primarily found in formal contexts such as news, science, and business writing, it emphasizes the completed action of obtaining something. While it's suitable for professional and academic settings, simpler alternatives are recommended for informal conversations. Remember to use it when emphasizing a sequence of events in the past.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been obtained

Replaces "procured" with a more general term for acquiring something.

had been acquired

Similar to "obtained", but often implies a more formal or official acquisition.

had been secured

Suggests effort or difficulty in obtaining something.

had been arranged

Implies that preparations were made to obtain something.

had been sourced

Focuses on the origin or supplier from which something was obtained.

had been purchased

Specifically refers to acquiring something through buying.

had been gathered

Implies collecting items from various places

had been collected

Similar to 'gathered', emphasizes bringing items together.

had been appropriated

Implies acquiring something, often resources, for a specific purpose.

had come into possession

A more formal way of saying something was acquired or obtained.

FAQs

What does "had been procured" mean?

The phrase "had been procured" means that something was obtained or acquired at some point in the past. It's often used in formal contexts to describe how something was acquired.

When should I use "had been procured" instead of "was obtained"?

"Had been procured" emphasizes that the action of obtaining something happened before another point in the past. "Was obtained" simply states that something was obtained. Using "had been procured" is useful when you need to clarify the sequence of past events.

What are some alternatives to "had been procured"?

Alternatives include "had been obtained", "had been acquired", or "had been secured", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to use "had been procured" in both formal and informal writing?

While grammatically correct, "had been procured" is more suited for formal or professional writing. In informal contexts, simpler alternatives like "got" or "obtained" are often more appropriate. The phrase "had been procured" has a formal tone.