had been published

USAGE SUMMARY

The expression "had been published" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this expression when referring to something that was written in the past and made publicly available. For example, "The book I read last week had been published in 2018."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Snatches of it had been published.

The New Yorker

"Awakenings" had been published the previous year.

The New York Times

"After it had been published".

The Guardian - Books

Most had been published in the past five years.

The New York Times

Carson's post had been published in April.

The New York Times

Only two-dimensional images had been published.

The New York Times

By 9, she had been published.

The New York Times

In 1981, nothing had been published for a general readership.

The New York Times

"Amok," however, had been published three years after the murder.

The New Yorker

Seven editions had been published in London by 1751 52.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Its first three volumes had been published in 1854 56.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been published", ensure the context clearly establishes the past perfect tense, indicating that the publication occurred before another point in the past.

Common error

Avoid using "had been published" when the simple past tense ("was published") is sufficient. The past perfect should only be used to emphasize the sequence of past events.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been published" functions as the past perfect passive voice of the verb "publish". It indicates that a piece of work or information was made available to the public before a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI validates this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

41%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been published" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression indicating that something was made publicly available before a specific time in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage across various domains, particularly in news, scientific, and encyclopedia contexts. While primarily neutral in register, it leans towards formality and is best employed when emphasizing the sequence of past events. To avoid errors, ensure that the past perfect tense is necessary and that simpler alternatives aren't more appropriate. The phrase is very common.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was released

This alternative focuses on the act of making something available to the public.

was issued

This alternative is commonly used when referring to official documents or statements.

appeared in print

This highlights the physical appearance of the publication.

saw publication

This provides a more formal and literary alternative.

came out

This is a more informal way of saying something was published.

was printed

This emphasizes the physical printing process of the publication.

was disseminated

This highlights the spreading of information to a wider audience.

was circulated

This focuses on the movement and distribution of the published material.

was put forth

Suggests an active process of presenting something for publication.

was brought out

Implies a more deliberate effort in making something public.

FAQs

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

The phrase "had been published" indicates that something was published before a specific point in the past. For example, "The study "had been published" before the conference took place."

What alternatives can I use instead of "had been published"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "was released", "was issued", or "appeared in print".

Which is correct, "had been published" or "was published"?

"Had been published" is used in the past perfect tense to indicate that the publication occurred before another past event. "Was published" is used in the simple past tense to describe a past publication without reference to another past event.

What is the difference between "was publicized" and "had been published"?

"Was publicized" refers to the act of making something widely known, while "had been published" specifically refers to the act of making something available in written or digital form.