had been quit

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been quit" is not correct in standard written English.
It is not a usable construction as it combines the past perfect tense "had been" with the past participle "quit" in a way that does not convey a clear meaning. Example: "He had been quit from the team for several months before he returned."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

23 At the time of study offer, 56.5% of participants had been quit for 1 6 days, 40% had been quit for 7 29 days, and 3.5% had been quit for 30 days or more.

BMJ Open

Conversely, the quitters who reported quitting cold turkey were either younger, had been quit for longer, or were of moderate-high SES.

BMC Public Health

We found that older quitters were more likely to have used GP advice or prescribed medication than younger quitters; less educated quitters were more likely to have used GP advice or prescribed medication than more educated; and individuals who had been quit for less than six months were more likely to have used NRT than those who had been quit for longer.

BMC Public Health

Because the purpose of this study was to examine the potential benefit of IVR assessments, and their triggering of counselling at the point of need to reduce relapse, tobacco users were screened for study criteria and invited to participate after reporting they had been quit for 24 h or more after their quit date.

BMJ Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Workers had been quitting in huge numbers or simply not showing up for work.

The New Yorker

As recently as September 2009, more Afghan soldiers had been quitting than joining the army, but that trend had been reversed by aggressive recruiting, salary increases and guarantees of regular leave.

The Washington Post

It would have been quitting miserably.

Harvard Business Review

The answer is that men have been quitting the labour force even faster.

The Economist

"To walk away at that point would have been quitting," she said.

The New York Times - Sports

The state's history of religious violence goes back decades: in Ahmedabad, Hindus and Muslims have been quitting each other's neighbourhoods since the mid-1980s.

The Economist

Indeed, increasing numbers of players have been quitting the league with health fears.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "had been quit" in formal writing. Opt for alternatives like "had resigned" or "had left" for clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Don't mistakenly use "had been quit" thinking it's a passive construction of "quit". Passive voice requires a transitive verb; "quit" is often used intransitively. For example, instead of "he had been quit", say "he had resigned" or "he had left".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been quit" attempts to function as a past perfect passive construction, but it's grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms that it is not a usable construction. Correct alternatives include "had resigned" or "had left".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been quit" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. Ludwig AI identifies it as a non-standard construction. Instead, use more appropriate alternatives such as "had resigned" or "had left" to clearly convey the intended meaning. While examples exist in some sources, their presence doesn't validate the phrase's correctness. Always prioritize clarity and grammatical accuracy in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had left

A simpler and more common way of saying someone departed from a job or role.

had resigned

Replaces "quit" with a more formal term implying voluntary departure.

had been dismissed

Indicates termination of employment or position by someone else.

had been forced out

Emphasizes that the departure was involuntary, due to external pressure.

had stepped down

Suggests a voluntary resignation, often for personal or strategic reasons.

had vacated the position

A more formal way to indicate someone has left a role.

had been relieved of duties

Suggests a formal removal from responsibilities.

had relinquished the role

Implies a formal and often public surrender of a position.

had withdrawn from

Indicates a formal removal from an activity or organisation.

had abandoned

Suggests a less formal departure, often with negative connotations.

FAQs

What's wrong with the phrase "had been quit"?

The phrase "had been quit" is not standard English. It's an incorrect formation of the past perfect passive. Use alternatives like "had resigned" or "had left" instead.

What can I say instead of "had been quit"?

Alternatives to "had been quit" include "had resigned", "had left", or "had been dismissed", depending on the context.

Which is correct, "had been quit" or "had quit"?

"Had quit" is grammatically correct and means someone had stopped doing something. "Had been quit" is generally considered incorrect. For example, "He had quit smoking" is correct.

Is "had been quit" ever acceptable in writing?

While you might encounter "had been quit" in informal speech, it's best to avoid it in formal or professional writing. Use clearer and more accepted phrases to ensure effective communication.