had been scrapped

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been scrapped" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something has been discarded, canceled, or no longer in use, often referring to plans, projects, or items. Example: "The original design for the building had been scrapped due to budget constraints."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

China's old and sophisticated legal traditions had been scrapped.

The Economist

In the midst of talks over the fiscal cliff, HHS said that idea had been scrapped.

The Economist

No one at the staging area seemed to know why the operation had been scrapped.

The New York Times

He added that the rules had been scrapped so "bogus" claims could no longer be made.

The Guardian

Sir Nick Faldo told us how disappointed he was that the day had been scrapped.

The Guardian - Sport

His report also listed 27 questions he had been unable to answer before his inquiry had been scrapped.

The Guardian - Opinion

The charge was denied by the company and the museum but within six months the partnership had been scrapped.

The Guardian

Whatever the problem, however, it was very much getting in the way of the president's travel schedule, which had been scrapped.

The New York Times

In response to my inquiry — something along the lines of, "Where's the beef?" — the waiter said the jerky garnish had been scrapped.

The New York Times

His report also listed 27 questions that he had been unable to get answers to before his inquiry had been scrapped.

The Guardian

On Thursday it was reported that another interview, with the satrical cartoonist and Zuma critic Jonathan Shapiro, had been scrapped due to "orders from above".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been scrapped" when you want to emphasize that a plan, project, or item was discarded at some point in the past before another past event occurred. For instance: "By the time the new CEO arrived, the old marketing strategy "had been scrapped".

Common error

Avoid using "had been scrapped" when referring to an action that is currently happening or will happen in the future. The past perfect tense indicates a completed action before another point in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been scrapped" functions as a past perfect passive construction. It describes an action (being scrapped) that was completed before another point in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a grammatically sound construction, widely found in different contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

12%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been scrapped" is a grammatically correct and commonly used past perfect passive phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It is used to describe actions that were completed before a specific time in the past, indicating that something was discarded or canceled. While it is suitable for general use, it is especially prevalent in news and media contexts. When using this phrase, remember to choose the correct tense and consider alternative options like "was discarded" or "was canceled" depending on the specific meaning you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was discarded

Replaces the phrasal verb with a more direct, single-word synonym.

was canceled

Focuses specifically on the cancellation aspect.

was abandoned

Highlights the idea of something being left behind or given up on.

was terminated

A more formal way of saying something was ended.

was abolished

Implies a formal removal or ending of something, often a rule or system.

was eliminated

Focuses on the removal or deletion of something.

was revoked

Suggests the formal withdrawal of a privilege or decision.

was nullified

Indicates something was made void or invalid.

was retracted

Implies a statement or offer was taken back.

was repealed

Specifically refers to the removal of a law or regulation.

FAQs

How to use "had been scrapped" in a sentence?

Use "had been scrapped" to indicate that something was discarded or canceled before a specific time in the past. For example, "The initial plan "had been scrapped" before the project even started".

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

You can use alternatives like "was discarded", "was canceled", or "was abandoned" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "had been scrapped" or "was scrapped"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but they convey slightly different meanings. "Was scrapped" indicates a simple past action, while "had been scrapped" indicates an action completed before another point in the past.

What's the difference between "had been scrapped" and "has been scrapped"?

"Had been scrapped" is past perfect, indicating completion before a past point. "Has been scrapped" is present perfect, indicating completion at some point before now.