had been repealed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been repealed" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that a law, regulation, or policy was annulled or revoked in the past. Example: "The outdated law had been repealed, allowing for new legislation to take its place."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

Prohibition had been repealed a mere two years earlier.

The New York Times - Food

By 1926, every anti-tipping law had been repealed.

The New York Times - Magazine

By 1890 most of the anti-Catholic laws had been repealed.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Don't Ask, Don't Tell had been repealed for gay, lesbian and bisexual service members.

The Guardian - Opinion

While I was in boot camp, we received word that DADT had been repealed.

The Guardian - Opinion

The Director of the Mint was uncertain whether the latter act had been repealed by the former.

Cornell University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

Sections 1730-1733 of the Code have been repealed, effective July 1 , 2001

Cornell University

It is not as though Proposition 13 has been repealed.

The New Yorker

"I'm glad the carbon tax has been repealed.

The Guardian

Rep. 170, it must be held not to have been repealed.

Cornell University

"I'm afraid people will see headlines and think 'don't ask' has been repealed.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been repealed", ensure the context clearly indicates the timeframe in which the repeal occurred. This helps avoid ambiguity and ensures clarity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "had been repealed" when the action is ongoing or still relevant in the present. Use "has been repealed" if the repeal's effects are still current.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been repealed" functions as a passive perfect construction, indicating that a law, rule, or policy was revoked at some point in the past. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Encyclopedias

13%

Academia

11%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Science

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been repealed" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to indicate that a law, rule, or policy was revoked at some point in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is widely used across diverse sources. Its primary function is to provide context by highlighting a past action completed before another point in time. While suitable for formal and informal contexts, it is crucial to ensure clarity by specifying the relevant timeframe. Common alternatives include "was rescinded" or "was revoked". Remember to use "has been repealed" if the repeal happened at an unspecified time in the past and is still relevant to the present.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was rescinded

Uses a different verb to convey the act of canceling or revoking something.

was revoked

Employs "revoked" to indicate the formal cancellation of a decree or law.

was abolished

Indicates that something was formally put to an end.

was nullified

Suggests that something was made void or ineffective.

was invalidated

Indicates something was declared legally void.

was overturned

Implies that a previous decision or law was reversed.

has been repealed

Present perfect tense to indicate a more recent repealing.

got repealed

Informal way to say something was repealed.

was repealed

Simple past tense version.

was rendered void

Uses a different term to convey the act of canceling or revoking something.

FAQs

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

Use "had been repealed" to indicate that a law, rule, or policy was revoked at some point in the past before another event occurred. For example, "The discriminatory law "had been repealed" before the new regulations were implemented".

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

"Was repealed" indicates a past action, while "had been repealed" indicates a past action completed before another point in time. For instance, "The law was repealed in 2010" versus "The law "had been repealed" before the new government took power".

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

Alternatives include "was rescinded", "was revoked", or "was abolished", depending on the specific context and desired nuance.

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

Yes, "has been repealed" is correct if you are referring to a repeal that happened at an unspecified time in the past and is still relevant to the present. "Had been repealed" is used to show that something happened before a specific point in the past.