had been reformulated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been reformulated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has been changed or revised in a previous context, often referring to ideas, plans, or documents. Example: "The proposal had been reformulated to better address the concerns raised during the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

Products

Formulas

Policies

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

By the time the report came out in October 2011, the product had been reformulated and certified as organic.

The New York Times

Labelling errors caused by the pharmacy computer system usually involved the automatic inclusion of additional warning labels that were out of date, either because products had been reformulated, or because recommendations had been revised.

BMJ Quality and Safety

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The hard part had been reformulating the question but that was a habit that he had developed from Soviet life.

The New Yorker

Already, many familiar children's foods have been reformulated.

Independent

Since then, dye-base inks have been reformulated to limit such fading.

The New York Times - Tech

The hugely popular YSL foundation Le Teint Touche Eclat (£32.50) has been reformulated to make it longer-lasting.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

A principal reason smog is declining is that gasoline has been reformulated to remove pollutants; Whitman's order extends the standard to diesel fuel.

The New York Times - Magazine

Guerlain's Mitsouko, for instance, has been reformulated, still using oakmoss, but grown without the molecule that causes allergic reactions in some people.

Independent

Even the first coat of rust-proofing has been reformulated so that it is one-hundredth as thick as — and thereby cheaper than — the coating on other cars.

The New York Times

There are plenty of conventional adhesives readily available right now in hardware stores — many of which have been reformulated and improved in recent years — that are designed for use on almost every conceivable surface.

The New York Times

And citing "changing consumer preferences," Colgate-Palmolive replaced triclosan with lactic acid in Palmolive Antibacterial Dish Liquid, and its Softsoap liquid hand soap has been reformulated without the chemical.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been reformulated" to emphasize that a specific formula, recipe, or plan has undergone significant changes, especially when the original version is no longer valid or used.

Common error

Avoid using "had been reformulated" when the changes are minor or cosmetic. Instead, reserve it for situations where substantial alterations to the core components or structure have occurred.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been reformulated" functions as a past perfect passive construction. It indicates that an action of reformulating was completed before a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI shows examples where this phrase is used to describe changes to products or policies.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been reformulated" is a grammatically sound past perfect passive construction used to describe changes made to something prior to a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across diverse contexts. While relatively rare, the phrase is most frequently encountered in scientific, news, and formal business sources. When using "had been reformulated", ensure that the changes were significant and occurred before the time frame you are referencing. Alternatives include "had been revised", "had been modified", and "had been altered".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been revised

Replaces 'reformulated' with 'revised', focusing on general correction or improvement rather than specific alterations to a formula or system.

had been modified

Uses 'modified' instead of 'reformulated', suggesting a change or alteration without necessarily implying a complete overhaul.

had been altered

Employs 'altered' to indicate a change, often in a less structured or systematic way than 'reformulated'.

had undergone modification

More formal phrasing that emphasizes the process of change rather than just the result.

had been adjusted

Suggests a fine-tuning or slight alteration to improve performance or suitability.

had been amended

Implies a formal correction or addition to something, often used in legal or official contexts.

had been reworked

Indicates a more substantial alteration, suggesting that something has been significantly changed or improved.

had been reconstructed

Suggests a complete rebuilding or reassembling, implying a significant change from the original state.

had been remodeled

Indicates a change in structure or form, similar to 'reconstructed' but often used in physical contexts.

had been transformed

Implies a dramatic change, suggesting that something has been fundamentally altered.

FAQs

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

Use "had been reformulated" to indicate that something, like a product or policy, has undergone significant changes: "The original recipe "had been reformulated" to remove artificial ingredients".

What are some alternatives to "had been reformulated"?

You can use alternatives such as "had been revised", "had been modified", or "had been altered" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "has been reformulated" instead of "had been reformulated"?

The choice between "has been reformulated" and "had been reformulated" depends on the context. "Has been reformulated" indicates a recent change, while "had been reformulated" refers to a change that occurred in the past relative to another past event.

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

"Had been reformulated" indicates a past action completed before another point in the past, whereas "was reformulated" simply describes a past action without reference to another past event. For example: "The product "was reformulated" in 2010, and by 2015, it "had been reformulated" again to meet new regulations".