had been put forward

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been put forward" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that an idea, proposal, or suggestion was previously presented or suggested at some point in the past. Example: "The proposal had been put forward during the last meeting, but it was not discussed in detail."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

The nomination had been put forward by Tony Blair.

The Guardian

Balladur had been put forward by rightist politicians, including Jacques Chirac, to serve as prime minister under Socialist Pres.

Encyclopedia Britannica

At the end, on the basis of TG-FTIR and Py-GC MS results, a Py-GC MS theresultsgradation mechanism of calcium alginate nonwoven fabric had been proposedard.

Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis

It is believed they had been put forward without the approval of Liberal Democrat ministers in the coalition.

The Guardian

They had been put forward by the UNHCR for resettlement in France, but months had passed and still no news.

The Guardian

One slate had been put forward by Vivendi which is controlled by French billionaire Vincent Bolloré and the other by U.S. fund Elliott.

Columbia University

This idea had been put forward by the architects Le Corbusier and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in their visionary projects of the 1920s.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The old theocracy served a purpose, perhaps, in a different age, before the ideals of universal suffrage and human rights had been put forward.

The Economist

Although the idea of an electric telegraph had been put forward before 1800, Morse believed that his was the first proposal.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A proposal had been put forward to open up the records of the 40-odd years when the communists ran the show.

The Economist

It had been put forward to mark the 20th anniversary of the worst massacre in Europe since the Second World War.

The Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the formality of your writing. While "had been put forward" is generally acceptable, more formal synonyms like "had been proposed" may be more appropriate in academic or professional settings.

Common error

Be mindful of overusing the passive voice. While "had been put forward" is grammatically sound, active voice constructions (e.g., "they had put forward") can often make your writing more direct and engaging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been put forward" functions as a passive past perfect construction. This indicates that an idea, proposal, or suggestion was presented at some point before another action in the past. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's grammatical correctness and frequent usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Science

36%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been put forward" is a grammatically correct and commonly used passive construction indicating that something was proposed or suggested in the past. According to Ludwig AI, it is suitable for various contexts, with a neutral to slightly professional register. While "had been put forward" is widely used, writers should be mindful of overuse of the passive voice and consider more direct active alternatives when appropriate. Key contexts include news, science, and encyclopedic content, with authoritative sources like The Guardian and The New York Times frequently employing the phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been proposed

Replaces "put forward" with a more formal synonym, "proposed".

had been suggested

Substitutes "put forward" with "suggested", implying a less forceful presentation.

had been presented

Focuses on the act of showing or displaying the idea, rather than the suggestion itself.

had been offered

Indicates that the idea was made available for consideration or acceptance.

had been submitted

Implies a formal presentation, such as in a document or application.

had been advanced

Suggests the idea was brought forward or promoted, often to a higher level.

had been mooted

A more British English term, meaning the idea was raised for discussion.

had been posited

Indicates the idea was stated as a fact or basis for reasoning.

had been advocated

Highlights the support and promotion of the idea.

had been recommended

Emphasizes that the idea was endorsed as a good course of action.

FAQs

What does "had been put forward" mean?

The phrase "had been put forward" means that an idea, suggestion, or proposal was presented or offered for consideration at some point in the past.

What are some alternatives to "had been put forward"?

You can use alternatives like "had been proposed", "had been suggested", or "had been presented" depending on the context.

How can I use "had been put forward" in a sentence?

Example: "The proposal to renovate the park "had been put forward" during the last town hall meeting, but no decision was made."

Is "had been put forward" formal or informal?

The phrase "had been put forward" is generally considered neutral in tone. While acceptable in both formal and informal contexts, more formal alternatives may be preferable in academic or professional writing. Consider options like "had been proposed".