had been suggested

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been suggested" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used in the past perfect tense to indicate that something was recommended or proposed in the past. Example: "The new policy had been suggested by the board of directors, but it was met with resistance from the employees." In this sentence, "had been suggested" emphasizes that the suggestion was made in the past and is no longer current. It could be replaced with "was suggested" or "had suggested," but using the past perfect tense adds a nuance of completion or finality to the suggestion.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

So lowering the hooks slightly had been suggested.

The New York Times - Science

It was hardly the first time it had been suggested.

The New Yorker

Meanwhile, other methods of transmission had been suggested.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The idea had been suggested before, but Hamilton dressed it in calculus and made it demonstrable.

The Guardian

It had been suggested that she ought to marry her stepdaughter's husband — something like that.

The New Yorker

Did he not think he should get a proper job? "It had been suggested often".

The Guardian

The piece, Mo said, had been suggested by Stephanie Cutter, a White House communications adviser.

The New Yorker

His name had been suggested by a Democrat, Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York.

The New York Times

"Nor were we ready to compromise, if a compromise had been suggested," Sendak says.

The New Yorker

He said steroid use among players was not as serious as had been suggested.

The New York Times - Sports

But people laughed at me, rather than consider what had been suggested".

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been suggested", ensure that the context clearly establishes who made the suggestion and when it occurred in relation to other events. This helps maintain clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "had been suggested" when a simple past tense ("was suggested") is more appropriate. "Had been suggested" is best used when referring to an action completed before another point in the past. If there is no other point in the past, use "was suggested".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been suggested" functions as the passive past perfect form of the verb "suggest". It describes an action of proposing or recommending something that occurred before another point in the past. As Ludwig AI indicates, it emphasizes a past suggestion.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

37%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been suggested" is a grammatically correct and commonly used construction in English, serving as the past perfect passive form of "suggest". As Ludwig AI confirms, it indicates a suggestion made at a time before another point in the past. It appears most frequently in news, media, and scientific writing. When employing the phrase, ensure clear context to avoid ambiguity about who made the suggestion and its relationship to other events. Consider alternatives like "was proposed" or "was recommended" for different nuances. While generally neutral, the register can shift depending on the source material, making it versatile for various writing contexts. "Had been suggested" is most frequently found in The New York Times, The Guardian, The New Yorker, BBC, and Encyclopedia Britannica.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was proposed

Focuses on the act of proposing an idea or plan, omitting the implication of an external agent making the suggestion.

was recommended

Implies endorsement or favor towards a particular course of action.

was put forward

Highlights the act of presenting an idea for consideration.

was offered

Suggests the provision of an idea or solution, potentially implying a more tentative or informal approach.

was advanced

Emphasizes the progression or promotion of a particular idea.

had been posited

Used in more formal contexts, suggesting that a theory or idea has been presented.

had been mooted

Indicates an idea that has been raised for discussion but is not necessarily seriously considered.

had been floated

Suggests the introduction of an idea in a tentative or exploratory manner.

was advised

Implies that someone provided counsel or guidance.

was considered

Indicates that something was thought about, but not necessarily recommended or proposed.

FAQs

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

Use "had been suggested" to indicate that an idea, plan, or solution was proposed before a specific point in the past. For example, "The new strategy "had been suggested" months before its implementation".

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

"Had been suggested" indicates an action completed before another point in the past, while "was suggested" simply indicates an action in the past. For example, "The change "was suggested" at the meeting" versus "The change "had been suggested" prior to the meeting".

Are there formal alternatives to "had been suggested"?

Yes, more formal alternatives include "had been proposed", "had been posited", or "had been advanced". The choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when using "had been suggested"?

A common mistake is using "had been suggested" when a simple past tense is more appropriate. Additionally, ensure the sentence structure clearly indicates who or what did the suggesting. If there is no subject, try rephrasing it by making the subject explicit.