had been short

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been short" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a past state or condition that was brief or insufficient in duration or quantity. Example: "The meeting had been short, lasting only fifteen minutes before everyone had to leave."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

The stocks it had been short soon collapsed.

The New York Times

Until today, Houston had been short on impact against Toronto.

The New York Times - Sports

He said that for nearly a year, citywide, the squads had been short 400 detectives.

The New York Times

But their meandering espionage investigation had been short on resources and long on missed opportunities.

The New York Times

The note Janice left him had been short and to the point.

The Guardian

That life had been short, and quite a bit of it was nasty and brutal.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

But the happiness had been short-lived.

The New Yorker

Her enthusiasm had been short-lived.

The New York Times

Another teacher claimed he had been short-changed.

The Guardian - Money

(A previous exhibition in Paris had been short-circuited by "les événements" of May 1968.

The New York Times - Arts

Liquor salesman gets into trouble with a blind man, who claims he had been short-changed.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been short" to describe a financial position, consider adding context about the specific asset or security involved (e.g., "had been short on tech stocks"). This enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Ensure that the subject of "had been short" is clearly defined. Avoid sentences like "Things had been short," which lack specific context. Instead, specify what was lacking (e.g., "Supplies had been short").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been short" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect tense. It describes a condition or state that existed before a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and diverse applicability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Formal & Business

16%

Science

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been short" is a grammatically sound and versatile phrase used to express a past deficiency, lack, or brevity before a specific point in time. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, highlighting its common usage across diverse contexts, predominantly in News & Media. When using this phrase, ensure the context is clear and specific to avoid ambiguity. Consider alternatives like "was brief" or "was lacking" depending on the intended nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was brief

Focuses on the concise duration of something.

was lacking

Emphasizes the absence or insufficiency of something necessary.

was deficient

Highlights the incompleteness or inadequacy of something.

was limited

Stresses the restricted quantity or extent of something.

was insufficient

Underscores the inadequacy of something for a specific purpose.

was curtailed

Implies that something was cut short or reduced in duration/scope.

was abbreviated

Suggests that something was made shorter or more concise.

was in short supply

Highlights the scarcity or limited availability of something.

did not last long

Focuses on the limited duration of something.

was wanting

Indicates that something was missing or not up to the required standard.

FAQs

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

You can use "had been short" to indicate a past deficiency or lack of something. For example, "The company had been short on funding before the new investment" or "The visit had been short but memorable".

What are some alternatives to "had been short"?

Alternatives include "was brief", "was lacking", or "was limited", depending on the specific meaning you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "had been shorted" instead of "had been short"?

While "had been short" generally means lacking or brief, "had been shorted" specifically refers to a financial transaction where an investor borrows and sells an asset, expecting its price to decline. The choice depends on the context.

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

"Had been short" indicates a past state that existed before another point in the past (past perfect), whereas "was short" indicates a state in the past (simple past). For instance, "The team had been short of players before the new recruits arrived" implies the shortage existed before the arrival. On the other hand, "The team was short of players" simply states a shortage in the past.