had been singed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been singed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has been slightly burned or scorched in the past, often in a passive construction. Example: "The edges of the paper had been singed, indicating that it had been too close to the flame."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

They had been singed by the hot cube.

The New York Times - Health

He had been singed in a media bonfire sparked by trivia and fanned into flame by culture-war-mongering.

The New Yorker

"The elevator started to shake, then it started to plummet, then it burst into flames". Inside the trade center lobby, Ronald Hans Clifford prayed with a woman so badly burned her clothes had been singed off.

The Washington Post

Even now, on a more distant anniversary, Hersey's granular rendering gives an urgency to these stories: of a young clerk, Shoji's age, who found herself crushed beneath a pile of books; of a Methodist pastor who charged his way back into the city to help, passing victims whose eyebrows had been singed off and women with the flower patterns of kimonos burned into their skin.

The New Yorker

Even now, on a more distant anniversary, Hersey's granular rendering gives an urgency to these stories: of a young clerk, Shoji's age, who found herself crushed beneath a pile of books; of a Methodist pastor who charged his way back into the city to help, passing victims whose eyebrows had been singed off and women with the flower patterns of kimonos burned into their skin.

The New Yorker

The hair on the back of his head had been singed by explosives, leaving it shorter than on the sides.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

But some of the most influential Republicans in the House have been singed by the firestorm.

The New York Times

Blackened rings in their cores show the trees have been singed every 10 to 40 years.

The Guardian

PetroChina has been singed by a political firestorm surrounding its initial public offering in the United States.

The New York Times

The white smudge is also several hundred metres from a disturbed bit of ground that looks as though it has been singed by a rocket.

The Economist

One New York restaurateur whose wings have been singed is Frank Valenza, the owner of Two Two Two on West 79th Street -- and 25 years ago, the Palace.

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been singed" to describe a light burn or scorching, often in the context of accidents or near misses. For instance, "His eyebrows had been singed when the candle flared up."

Common error

Avoid using "singed" when a more descriptive verb like "charred" or "incinerated" would be more accurate. "Singed" implies a slight burn, so ensure it matches the intensity of the situation you're describing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been singed" functions as a past perfect passive construction. It indicates that something experienced a light burn or scorch prior to a specific point in the past. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in various contexts, such as describing damage from fire or explosives.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

24%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been singed" is a grammatically sound and versatile phrase used to describe something that experienced a minor burn or scorch before a certain point in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's common across various contexts, especially in news and media, science, and academic writing. When using this phrase, ensure that the intensity of the burn matches the meaning of "singed"—a slight or superficial effect. Alternatives such as "had been scorched" or "had been lightly burned" can be used for similar meanings, depending on the nuances you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been slightly scorched

Combines "slightly" with "scorched" to emphasize a minor burn.

had been scorched

Replaces "singed" with a synonym indicating a slightly more intense burn.

had been lightly burned

Emphasizes the mildness of the burning.

had been burned

A more general term, indicating that something experienced fire damage.

had been charred

Suggests a more significant level of burning than "singed".

had been seared

Implies a quick burn, often used in cooking contexts, but can be applied metaphorically.

had been kissed by fire

A more poetic way to describe a light encounter with fire.

had suffered heat damage

A more clinical and general way to describe the effect of heat.

had been exposed to flame

Focuses on the contact with the flame itself.

had caught a bit of fire

An informal way to describe a brief encounter with fire.

FAQs

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

You can use "had been singed" to describe something that experienced a minor burn. For example: "The edges of the document "had been singed", indicating it was close to the fire."

What's a good alternative to "had been singed"?

Alternatives include "had been scorched", "had been burned" or "had been lightly burned", depending on the severity of the burning.

Is it correct to say "had been singed" or should I use another tense?

"Had been singed" is the past perfect passive form and is grammatically correct when describing a completed action in the past that happened before another point in the past. For example: "By the time firefighters arrived, the curtains "had been singed"."

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

"Had been singed" indicates an action completed before another point in the past, while "was singed" simply describes a state in the past. For instance, "The paper "had been singed" before I found it" versus "The paper "was singed" when I picked it up."