had been retracted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been retracted" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where something, such as a statement or a document, has been withdrawn or taken back after being previously issued. Example: "The article was published on Monday, but it had been retracted by Wednesday due to factual inaccuracies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

It attributed the misstatement to "error," and declared that it had been "retracted".

The New York Times

The party cleared officials of wrongdoing in an internal inquiry on the grounds that the original complaints had been retracted.

The Guardian

The unusual circumstances in which the regulatory filings had been retracted was not the end of the matter.

The Guardian - Business

In their subsequent recollections, they mentioned race more frequently, and incorrectly, even though they knew that piece of information had been retracted.

The New Yorker

Two years after the quake, several million dollars worth of pledges had been retracted by various donors (a move permissible within the guidelines of the donor conference).

Encyclopedia Britannica

An oblique sentence in his letter said that the Cognition paper had been retracted because "the data produced in the published experiments did not support the published findings".

The New York Times - Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

So far, none of Macchiarini's papers have been retracted; Delaere says retraction may be in order for many.

Science Magazine

Now, that research has been retracted, the blog Retraction watch reported.

Huffington Post

Many of his papers have been retracted, according to the Retraction Watch Web site.

Science Magazine

Should the original post have been retracted?

The New York Times

There were calls for revenge, but these have been retracted.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been retracted" when you need to emphasize that the retraction occurred in the past relative to another past event. This helps establish a clear sequence of events in your narrative.

Common error

Avoid using "had been retracted" when a simple past tense like "was retracted" is sufficient. Overusing the past perfect can make your writing sound overly complex or unnatural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been retracted" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect passive voice. It indicates that an action (retraction) was completed before a specific point in the past. Ludwig provides examples of its use in various contexts, such as news articles and scientific publications.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

45%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been retracted" is grammatically correct and functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect passive voice. Ludwig AI indicates it is used to convey that something was previously stated or published but later withdrawn. While the phrase is suitable for formal writing and commonly appears in news and scientific contexts, overuse can be avoided by using simpler past tense forms like "was retracted" where appropriate. The examples show that the phrase is used in a variety of contexts, often related to correcting errors or acknowledging new information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was withdrawn

Uses a simpler verb tense and avoids the passive voice construction.

was taken back

Emphasizes the action of removing or reversing a previous statement or action.

was rescinded

Implies a formal or official cancellation or revocation.

was revoked

Suggests that something like a license, permission, or law was canceled.

was repealed

Specifically refers to the cancellation of a law or regulation.

was invalidated

Suggests that something was proven wrong and is no longer valid.

was nullified

Indicates that something has been rendered void or without legal force.

was disavowed

Highlights the act of denying knowledge of or responsibility for something.

was repudiated

Emphasizes the act of rejecting something with disapproval or condemnation.

was reversed

Indicates that a decision or policy has been changed to its opposite.

FAQs

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

Use "had been retracted" to indicate that something was previously stated or published but was later withdrawn. For example, "The claim had been retracted after new evidence emerged."

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

"Had been retracted" indicates that the retraction occurred before another point in the past, whereas "was retracted" simply states that the retraction happened in the past. Example: "The study "was retracted" last year" versus "The study had been retracted before the investigation concluded."

What are some alternatives to using "had been retracted"?

Consider using phrases like "was withdrawn", "was taken back", or "was rescinded" depending on the specific context and the level of formality required.

Is it appropriate to use "had been retracted" in formal writing?

Yes, "had been retracted" is suitable for formal writing as it accurately conveys the sequence of events, indicating a completed action in the past relative to another past event. Its use is grammatically sound and widely accepted in academic and professional contexts.