had been spread

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been spread" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in the past perfect tense to indicate that something was disseminated or distributed prior to another past event. Example: "The news had been spread quickly throughout the community before the official announcement was made."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Sawdust had been spread over where the body lay.

Independent

Orquera, whose previous 29 international caps had been spread over nine years, landed the conversion.

The New York Times - Sports

Finally, vicious rumours had been spread, escalating rapidly to stuff being posted on Snapchat and Facebook.

The Guardian

Officials said tests indicated a petroleum distillate had been spread in the house.

The New York Times

Outside the Grays' apartment building, a plastic tarp had been spread out and decorated with memorial candles in glass sleeves.

The New York Times

But, in the meantime, didn't it still make sense to debunk the misinformation that had been spread?

The New Yorker

The stunning new Museu del Disseny (€5) puts on one site several museums that had been spread across the city.

The Guardian - Travel

University officials said Tuesday that the layoffs had been spread throughout its graduate schools, academic departments and administrative units.

The New York Times

He said he did not agree with Dr. Bellwood that the Indo-European languages had been spread by farming.

The New York Times - Science

If they had been spread a little thinner he might have been playing his next shots from the pine needles.

The Guardian - Sport

Dr Alan McNally explained that this meant the disease had been spread between humans in two countries: Spain and Mexico.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been spread", ensure the context clearly establishes what was spread and the means or extent of its dissemination. For instance, specify whether it was information, a substance, or an idea, and if it was limited or widespread.

Common error

Avoid overusing "had been spread" in sentences where an active voice would be more direct and impactful. For instance, instead of saying "Rumors had been spread by the media", consider "The media spread rumors".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been spread" functions as a past perfect passive verb phrase. It describes an action that was completed before another point in the past, with the subject receiving the action. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its widespread use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been spread" is a grammatically correct and frequently used past perfect passive verb phrase. According to Ludwig, its primary function is to indicate that something was disseminated before another past event. While suitable for various contexts, it's important to avoid overuse in passive constructions for clearer writing. This phrase appears most often in news and media, science, and wiki sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been disseminated

Replaces "spread" with a more formal term, implying a wider distribution of information or something intangible.

had been propagated

Suggests a more deliberate and active spreading, often used in the context of ideas or beliefs.

had been circulated

Implies a more controlled or restricted distribution, like within a specific group or network.

had been diffused

Suggests a gradual and even distribution, often used in scientific or technical contexts.

had been scattered

Implies a random or uneven distribution, often used in a literal sense (e.g. seeds).

had been transmitted

Suggests a passing on of something from one source to another, like a disease or signal.

had been broadcast

Implies a wide and public dissemination, typically through media channels.

had been dispersed

Suggests a breaking up and scattering of something, often used in the context of crowds or substances.

had been relayed

Implies the passing of information from one person or group to another.

had been communicated

Replaces "spread" with a broader term for conveying information.

FAQs

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

You can use "had been spread" to describe the dissemination of information, the distribution of a substance, or the propagation of an idea. For example, "The news "had been spread" quickly" or "The fertilizer "had been spread" evenly across the field".

What are some alternatives to "had been spread"?

Alternatives to "had been spread" include "had been disseminated", "had been circulated", or "had been propagated". The best choice depends on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "had been spread"?

While "had been spread" is a grammatically correct passive construction, consider using the active voice for more directness. Instead of "The rumor "had been spread" by John", you could say "John spread the rumor".

What is the difference between "had been spread" and "was spread"?

"Had been spread" is in the past perfect tense, indicating an action completed before another point in the past. "Was spread" is in the simple past passive tense, indicating an action that occurred in the past. For example, "The news "had been spread" before the official announcement" versus "The news "was spread" yesterday".