had been selected

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'had been selected' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it whenever you need to refer to an event that happened in the past before another event. For example, "The new team captain had been selected before the tryouts had even started."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Those finalists had been selected from 981 university nominees.

The New York Times

Rumors had started to circulate that Whitman had been selected.

The New Yorker

She added that no interim successor had been selected.

The New York Times

None had been selected for character, resilience, or survival instinct.

The New Yorker

Officials insisted the family members had been selected randomly.

The New York Times

He had been selected the last two seasons.

The New York Times

East India Youth's Doyle was also delighted that the band's album had been selected.

The Guardian - Music

Mr. Hutchinson declined to confirm today that he had been selected to run the agency.

The New York Times

They had been selected even from among Harvard students as the most well adjusted.

The New York Times

An earlier version said Victoria Borwick had been selected as the Conservative MP for Kensington.

The Guardian

By the end of the second round Saturday, four Huskies had been selected.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been selected", ensure the agent performing the selection is clear from the context. If not, specify it with a 'by' phrase (e.g., 'had been selected by the committee').

Common error

Avoid using "had been selected" when simple past tense ("was selected") suffices. Use the past perfect only when emphasizing that the selection preceded another past action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been selected" functions as a passive perfect construction. It indicates that an action (selection) was completed at some point in the past before another point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

17%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been selected" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase indicating a completed selection before another past event. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It functions as a passive perfect construction and serves to provide context and clarity regarding the timing of events. While suitable for various registers, it's most frequently encountered in news and media sources. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity regarding the selecting agent and avoid overuse when simpler past tense suffices.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was chosen

This alternative replaces the passive perfect construction with a simple passive past, making it more concise.

was picked

Similar to "was chosen", this alternative offers a more informal tone while preserving the meaning.

had been appointed

This alternative suggests a more formal selection process, implying an official designation.

had been designated

This alternative also implies an official selection, often for a specific purpose or role.

had been named

This alternative emphasizes the act of publicly announcing the selection.

was the selection

Rephrases the verb with a nominal construction, changing the emphasis.

had been the choice

This alternative implies that there were other options, but "had been selected" was favored.

had been decided on

This alternative emphasizes the decision-making process leading to the selection.

was determined

This is more concise, placing focus on the act of determination.

was the one

This is a more informal phrasing, showing "had been selected" as the best option.

FAQs

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

Use "had been selected" to indicate that a selection occurred before another action in the past. For example, "The venue "had been selected" before the committee finalized the event schedule."

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

You can use alternatives like "was chosen", "was picked", or "had been appointed" depending on the context.

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

"Had been selected" is used when the selection happened before another point in the past. "Was selected" is used when referring to a single action in the past without reference to another past action. Example: "He "was selected" yesterday", vs. "He "had been selected" before the final interviews were conducted".

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

"Had been selected" refers to something selected in the past, prior to another past event. "Has been selected" refers to something selected in the past, with relevance to the present. Example: "He "had been selected" for the team last year" (and is no longer relevant), versus "He "has been selected" for the team this year" (and is currently on the team).