had been rejected

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been rejected" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something was not accepted or approved in the past, often in a context involving applications, proposals, or offers. Example: "After waiting for weeks, I finally received the news that my application had been rejected."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

I had been rejected.

The New York Times

One had been rejected.

The Economist

Previous applications had been rejected.

The Economist

Esther had been rejected.

The New York Times

5 states, but they had been rejected.

The Washington Post

I had been rejected, but I was still in love.

Stanford University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

It was not the first time Jones had been rejected.

The New York Times - Sports

Although Boeing, its rival, declared victory, Airbus said that 70% of America's claims had been rejected.

The Economist

The remaining ones had been rejected for physical reasons.

The New Yorker

The announcement that the draft constitution had been rejected drew condemnation from Fiji's neighbors.

The New York Times

She had been rejected by bank after bank (some citing her lack of American citizenship).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience and context when choosing a synonym for "had been rejected". More formal options like "was declined" are better suited for professional communications, while "was turned down" works well in informal settings.

Common error

Avoid overuse of the passive voice. While "had been rejected" is grammatically correct, active voice often makes writing clearer and more direct. Instead of "The application had been rejected by the committee", consider "The committee rejected the application".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been rejected" functions as a past perfect passive construction. It describes an action (rejection) that was completed before another point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness and common usage of this phrase across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Academia

18%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Science

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been rejected" is a grammatically sound and frequently used past perfect passive construction to express that something was denied prior to a specific point in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it appears commonly in "News & Media", "Academia", and "Formal & Business" contexts, making it suitable for both formal and informal writing. Remember to consider active voice alternatives for clarity and to choose synonyms that match the tone of your writing. Be aware of using it incorrectly to prevent confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was not accepted

A straightforward and neutral alternative, lacking strong connotations.

was declined

A more formal and direct synonym, suitable for professional settings.

was refused

Implies a more assertive or direct denial.

was turned down

Uses a more casual phrasal verb, suitable for informal contexts.

was disapproved

Suggests a lack of official endorsement or agreement.

met with disapproval

Indicates that something or someone caused disappointment or disagreement.

did not pass muster

An idiomatic expression meaning something didn't meet the required standard.

was vetoed

Specifically implies that an authority figure blocked a decision.

was thrown out

Suggests a forceful or dismissive rejection.

was given the thumbs down

An informal expression indicating disapproval or rejection.

FAQs

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

"Had been rejected" indicates that something was not accepted or approved before a specific time in the past. For example, "His proposal "had been rejected" before he even had a chance to explain it fully".

What's a more formal way to say "had been rejected"?

More formal alternatives include "was declined" or "was refused". These options are suitable for professional or academic contexts.

What are some informal alternatives to "had been rejected"?

Informal alternatives include "was turned down" or "was given the thumbs down", which are appropriate for casual conversation.

What is the difference between "had been rejected" and "was rejected"?

"Had been rejected" (past perfect passive) refers to an action completed before another point in the past. "Was rejected" (simple past passive) refers to a single action in the past. For example, "The application "had been rejected" before he submitted his appeal", versus "The application "was rejected" last week".