had been secured

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been secured" is correct and usable in written English.
It is commonly used in the past perfect tense to indicate that an action happened before another point in the past. Example sentence: By the time police arrived, the suspect had been secured and taken into custody.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"The scene had been secured," Mr. Weis said.

The New York Times

Within minutes of the marines' arrival, Firdos had been secured.

The New Yorker

The military said the scene had been secured.

The Washington Post

Fifteen acres had been secured near the Reflecting Pool.

The Washington Post

The intent was to avoid teams' resting star players after playoff positions had been secured.

The New York Times - Sports

If the Simandou license had been secured through bribery, then the deal could potentially be undone.

The New Yorker

A loan had been secured against fraudulently overvalued property, leading to losses of at least $27m.

The Economist

Mende said it was filmed by the Kamuina Nsapu militia and had been secured by police.

The Guardian

Once the painting had been secured, Van Auker did a Google search for de Kooning.

The Washington Post

He was told the intelligence did not lead to the conclusion that uranium had been secured.

The Guardian

Williams' proposal involved revocation by a minister only after a serious conviction had been secured.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been secured" to clearly indicate that an action of securing something occurred before another point in the past. This helps establish a timeline of events and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "had been secured" when the simple past tense ("was secured") is sufficient. "Had been secured" is appropriate when you need to emphasize that the securing action occurred before another past event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been secured" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect passive voice. It indicates that a particular action of securing something was completed before another point in time in the past, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

19%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been secured" is a versatile phrase used to indicate that an action of securing took place before a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across a broad spectrum of contexts, from news and media to scientific and academic writing. When aiming for clarity in your writing, ensure you’re using the correct tense to reflect the chronological sequence of events, especially when distinguishing between actions that occurred at different times in the past. Remember there are also some related phrases that could improve your text, such as "had been guaranteed", "had been obtained", or "had been ensured".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been guaranteed

Emphasizes assurance and certainty, suggesting a promise or formal agreement.

had been obtained

Focuses on the act of acquiring or gaining something, often through effort.

had been ensured

Highlights the act of making something certain to happen, removing doubt.

had been attained

Suggests achieving a goal or reaching a desired state after a period of work.

had been finalized

Focuses on the completion of a process, indicating that all details are settled.

had been protected

Emphasizes the act of shielding from harm or danger, ensuring safety.

had been arranged

Highlights the planning and preparation involved in setting something up.

had been confirmed

Focuses on verifying the truth or accuracy of something.

had been established

Suggests setting something up on a firm or permanent basis.

had been locked down

Indicates a state of high security, preventing access or movement.

FAQs

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

Use "had been secured" to show that something was secured before another event in the past. For example, "By the time the firefighters arrived, the perimeter "had been secured" by police."

What are some alternatives to saying "had been secured"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "had been guaranteed", "had been obtained", or "had been ensured".

Is it correct to say "was secured" instead of "had been secured"?

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

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

"Had been secured" is in the past perfect tense, referring to something secured before another point in the past. "Has been secured" is in the present perfect tense, referring to something secured at an unspecified time in the past that has relevance to the present.