had been sped

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been sped" is not correct and not usable in written English.
The correct form would typically involve "had been" followed by a past participle, but "sped" is not used in this construction. Example: "The package had been sent quickly."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science & Research

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

They run the light through a fiber in which the wavelengths that had been sped up are slowed down and those that had been slowed down are sped up, so the gap closes.

Science Magazine

By 1813 the execution process had been sped up by the introduction of the "short drop" method of hanging, allowing the unusually rapid execution of fourteen Luddite agitators at the castle in 1814.

Wikipedia

The suggestion that her building had been sped up by using guns and/or turrets originally designed for the s which preceded her is not borne out as the guns and turrets were not ordered until July 1905.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The police concluded that Ms. Leingang had been speeding.

The New York Times

Troopers Hogan and Kenna told investigators that they had stopped the van because the driver had been speeding.

The New York Times

Mr. Taylor was charged with criminally negligent homicide after it was determined that he had been speeding, the police said.

The New York Times

The car had been speeding when it suddenly lurched forward, as happens in cases of unintended acceleration.

The New Yorker

One woman wrote "thanks for saving my life," saying she had been speeding but slowed down after seeing the sign.

The New York Times

But speed alone is generally not enough to bring criminal charges, and the police did not initially find that Mr. Himon had been speeding.

The New York Times

Gregor even had the presence of mind, afterward, to go around to the local police and explain why he had been speeding and careening through stop signs.

The New Yorker

Pulled over by a plump, pink-faced officer, I was told that I had been speeding and that I would need to pay a fine of 100 hryvnia.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "had been sped" in formal writing. Opt for grammatically correct alternatives like "had been accelerated" or "had been hastened" to ensure clarity and professionalism.

Common error

The word "sped" is the past tense of "speed", but the past participle is "speeded" (though "sped" is sometimes used informally). To maintain grammatical correctness, always use "speeded up" instead of "sped up" after "had been".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been sped" functions as a past perfect passive construction, although it is grammatically questionable. Ludwig AI indicates that it is not correct in written English. It attempts to describe a completed action of something being made faster.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been sped" is generally considered grammatically incorrect and its usage should be avoided, as Ludwig AI suggests. While it appears in some contexts, like news and science, the frequency is very rare. It attempts to convey that something was made faster in the past, but more appropriate and grammatically sound alternatives such as "had been accelerated" or "had been hastened" should be used instead to ensure clarity and accuracy in writing. Remember to use "speeded up" rather than "sped up" when aiming for grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been accelerated

Replaces "sped" with a more standard and grammatically accepted past participle of "accelerate".

had been hastened

Similar to "accelerated", but with a connotation of urgency or making something happen sooner.

had been quickened

Implies making something faster or more lively.

had been expedited

Suggests making a process faster and more efficient.

had its pace increased

Rephrases the sentence to focus on the increase in pace rather than using "sped".

had been moved up

Indicates that something was scheduled earlier than originally planned.

had been rushed

Suggests that something was done quickly, possibly with less care.

had its progress accelerated

Focuses on the acceleration of progress rather than the action of speeding.

had been advanced

Similar to "moved up", implying a shift to an earlier time or date.

had gained momentum

Suggests that the speed or rate of progress has increased naturally.

FAQs

Is "had been sped" grammatically correct?

No, "had been sped" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct form is usually "had been speeded up" or alternatives like "had been accelerated".

What are some alternatives to "had been sped"?

You can use alternatives such as "had been accelerated", "had been hastened", or "had been expedited" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "had been sped" or "had been speeded up"?

"Had been speeded up" is the more grammatically correct option. While "sped" is a valid past tense, "speeded" is the standard past participle.

When should I use alternatives to "had been sped"?

You should use alternatives like "had been accelerated" in formal writing and whenever grammatical accuracy is important. In informal contexts, "sped up" might be acceptable, but "had been sped" remains questionable.