had been razed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been razed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where a building or structure has been completely destroyed or demolished in the past. Example: "The old library had been razed to make way for a new shopping center."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Our house had been razed, the city was destroyed.

The Guardian

By the end of the hostilities, about 400 Arab villages across the country had been razed.

The New York Times

The risks were highest in the areas where public housing projects had been razed, he said.

The New York Times

Other than that, Treblinka was gone: it had been razed months before.

The New Yorker

And nor did all of the Indonesian forces.Within two days almost 200 schools had been razed.

The Economist

When we came back in the morning the entire community had been razed.

The Guardian

Even the cemetery where my grandfather had been buried had been razed.

The Guardian

This city had been razed by the Nazis and betrayed by the Soviets.

The New York Times

A vibrant neighborhood had been razed to clear the land, displacing 7,000 people.

The New York Times - Travel

Now the factory had been razed and the Wu temple restored to its glory by a dirty river.

The Economist

Not long ago, I learned that the house I grew up in had been razed to the ground.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been razed" to vividly describe the complete destruction of a place or structure, often implying a forceful or intentional act.

Common error

While "had been razed" is acceptable in news and general writing, consider more neutral or technical terms like "demolished" or "deconstructed" in formal or scientific reports for clarity and precision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been razed" functions as a passive perfect construction, describing a completed action in the past. According to Ludwig, this is a correct and usable phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Wiki

2%

Academia

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been razed" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe something that has been completely destroyed or demolished. Ludwig examples show the phrase appears most commonly in news and media contexts. While Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and usability, it's important to consider the register and choose more technical alternatives in formal or scientific writing if precision is paramount. Related phrases include "had been demolished" and "had been destroyed", which can be used interchangeably depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been demolished

Replaces "razed" with a more common synonym, maintaining the passive voice and past perfect tense.

had been destroyed

Uses a more general term for destruction, suitable for a wider range of contexts.

had been leveled

Implies a flattening or complete removal of structures.

had been obliterated

Suggests a more thorough and complete destruction, almost to the point of non-existence.

had been flattened

Focuses on the result of the destruction, emphasizing the level surface left behind.

had been wiped out

Emphasizes the complete removal and eradication of something.

had been reduced to rubble

Describes the state after destruction, focusing on the debris and fragments left behind.

had been completely gutted

Highlights the interior destruction, suggesting a hollowing-out of the structure.

was reduced to ashes

Suggests destruction by fire, leaving only ashes behind.

was completely torn down

Emphasizes the act of tearing down, suggesting a deliberate and forceful demolition.

FAQs

What does "had been razed" mean?

The phrase "had been razed" means something has been completely destroyed or demolished. It suggests that the destruction happened in the past.

How can I use "had been razed" in a sentence?

You can use "had been razed" to describe a place or structure that was completely destroyed. For example, "The village "had been razed" by the invading army."

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

Alternatives to "had been razed" include "had been demolished", "had been destroyed", or "had been leveled", depending on the specific context.

Is "had been razed" formal or informal?

"Had been razed" is suitable for both neutral and slightly formal contexts, often found in news reporting and historical accounts. However, for highly technical or scientific writing, more neutral terms like "had been demolished" might be preferred.