had been signed

USAGE SUMMARY

"had been signed" is correct and usable in written English.
It is in the past perfect tense and is used when talking about an action which occurred prior to another action in the past. For example: The agreement had been signed before the meeting began.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It had been signed by Ion Bejan.

The New Yorker

Contracts had been signed.

The New York Times - Arts

But contracts had been signed.

The Guardian

The Good Friday Agreement had been signed four years before.

Independent

The eviction notice had been signed by a judge.

The Guardian

But by Sunday afternoon the deal had been signed.

The New York Times

After the deal had been signed, his rhetoric shifted.

The New Yorker

He said letters of intent had been signed for both.

The New York Times

The contract had been signed by his mother.

The Guardian

Within months, a peace accord had been signed and Mr. Mladic was a fugitive.

The New York Times

It was a legal maneuver, however, because no contract had been signed.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been signed" to clearly indicate that an action of signing preceded another event in the past. This helps establish a sequence of events and clarifies the timing of the agreement or document.

Common error

Avoid using "was signed" when you need to emphasize that the signing occurred before another past event. "Was signed" indicates a completed action, but doesn't specify its relation to another event's timing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been signed" functions as a past perfect passive construction. It describes an action (signing) that was completed before another action or time in the past. The use of the passive voice emphasizes the document or agreement rather than the person who signed it, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been signed" is a grammatically correct and frequently used past perfect passive construction. It's used to indicate that an action of signing occurred before another event in the past, establishing a clear sequence of events. As Ludwig AI indicates, the passive voice is used to shift emphasis to the object being signed. Its prevalence in "News & Media", "Science", and "Formal & Business" contexts reflects its role in describing completed legal or official actions. When using this phrase, ensure the context necessitates specifying the precedence of the signing action over another past event. Alternatives like "was signed" can be used when the sequence isn't critical.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was signed

This alternative uses the simple past passive voice, indicating a completed action in the past without emphasizing its precedence over another past action.

had been ratified

This implies a formal approval process, often used for treaties or agreements.

had been authorized

This focuses on the permission or approval aspect of the signing.

had been executed

This term is often used in legal contexts to emphasize the completion of a contract.

had been agreed upon

This highlights the consensus or mutual understanding achieved before the signing.

had been finalized

This emphasizes the completion and resolution of the agreement.

had been endorsed

This suggests a formal approval or support, often from a higher authority.

had been sealed

This uses a more figurative term to indicate the finality and binding nature of the agreement.

had come into effect

Focuses on the moment the agreement became legally binding and operational.

had been put in place

This alternative emphasizes the establishment or implementation of something.

FAQs

How is "had been signed" used in a sentence?

"Had been signed" is used to show that the act of signing occurred before another event in the past. For example, "The contract "had been signed" before the meeting took place".

What are some alternatives to "had been signed"?

Depending on the context, you could use "was signed", "had been ratified", or "had been authorized". Each alternative emphasizes a slightly different aspect of the agreement or approval process.

When should I use "had been signed" instead of "was signed"?

Use "had been signed" when you want to emphasize that the signing happened before another event in the past. Use "was signed" when the sequence of events is not important.

Is it correct to say "the document has been signed"?

Yes, "the document has been signed" is correct, but it indicates a present perfect tense, meaning the action was completed at some point in the past and is relevant to the present. "Had been signed" places the signing firmly in the past, prior to another past event.