had been ratified

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been ratified" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something, such as a document or agreement, was formally approved or confirmed in the past before another event occurred. Example: "The treaty had been ratified by all member states before the summit took place."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

This convention took effect in 1964 and by 1970 had been ratified by almost 40 states.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A long-awaited election law had been ratified two days before the bombings.

The Economist

By the early 21st century it had been ratified by nearly 80 countries.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But he cautioned that none of the proposed changes had been ratified.

The New York Times

As of 12 January 2007, it had been ratified by 167 countries.

The New York Times

By 1867, it had been ratified by all the great powers of Europe.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

The Paris agreement has been ratified.

The Guardian

It has been ratified by more than 125 states.

The Guardian

The new contract, which has been ratified, left in place the minimum numbers for musicians.

The New York Times

On July 28 , 1868 having been ratified by the requisite number of states, it entered into force.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Signed by President Obama in 2009, the treaty has been ratified by 132 countries.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been ratified" to clearly indicate that a formal approval process occurred before a specific point in time, establishing a sequence of events. For example: "The agreement had been ratified by the council before the project commenced."

Common error

Avoid using "had been ratified" when simply stating that something is currently ratified. Use "is ratified" or "has been ratified" to describe the current state. For example, instead of "The treaty had been ratified," say "The treaty is ratified" if referring to its current status.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been ratified" functions as the past perfect passive voice of the verb "ratify". It indicates that a process of formal approval or confirmation was completed before a certain point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Encyclopedias

23%

Science

13%

Less common in

Wiki

12%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been ratified" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to indicate that something underwent and completed a formal process of approval before a specific point in time. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, and its prevalence in news, encyclopedias, and scientific sources suggests its use in formal or official contexts. When using the phrase, it's important to establish the correct sequence of events and to avoid using it when a simple statement of current ratification is sufficient. Consider alternatives such as "was ratified" or "had received ratification" depending on the desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was ratified

Uses a simpler past passive construction, omitting "been" for brevity.

had received ratification

Replaces the passive verb with an active verb and noun form, focusing on the action of receiving ratification.

had been approved

Substitutes "ratified" with a more general term for approval.

had been endorsed

Uses "endorsed" to imply a stronger level of support than simple ratification.

had been sanctioned

Implies that ratification came with some level of formal authority or permission.

had been validated

Suggests that the ratification process confirmed the validity or correctness of something.

had been confirmed

Uses a more neutral term for verifying or establishing something as official.

had been enacted

Focuses on the implementation or legal force that comes with ratification.

had passed into law

Indicates the formal legal acceptance of something after the ratification process.

had come into effect

Emphasizes the point at which the ratification had a practical effect or became operational.

FAQs

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

"Had been ratified" indicates that something was formally approved before a specific point in the past. For example: "The constitution "had been ratified" by nine states before the new government commenced proceedings."

What are some alternative ways to say "had been ratified"?

Alternatives include "was ratified", "had received ratification", or "had been approved", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "had been ratified" and "was ratified"?

"Had been ratified" emphasizes that the ratification occurred before another event in the past, establishing a sequence. "Was ratified" simply states that the ratification happened in the past, without necessarily relating it to another event. For example: "The treaty "was ratified" last year."

Is it correct to say "the decision had been ratified by" or "the decision was ratified by"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "had been ratified by" is appropriate when you're setting a past perfect context. "The decision "was ratified by"" is a simple past tense statement.