had been suspended

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "had been suspended" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate a past state of being suspended, usually in the context of a punishment or consequence that has already been fulfilled. For example: "He had been suspended for three days as a reprimand for his infractions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

(Sales had been suspended since November).

The New York Times

By early afternoon, classes had been suspended.

The New York Times

Text-messaging services had been suspended.

The Economist

(They had been suspended with pay).

The New York Times

Fields had been suspended without pay.

The Washington Post

He had been suspended from working twice.

The Guardian

Comics had been suspended to save paper.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

It had been suspended since the attack.

The New York Times

Some had graduated; others had been suspended.

The Guardian - Sport

Within the hour, Livingstone had been suspended.

The Guardian

He said the perpetrator's account had been suspended.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been suspended" to clearly indicate that a suspension occurred in the past and its effects are relevant to the current context. For example, "Because he had been suspended, he missed the crucial deadline."

Common error

Avoid using "was suspended" when you need to emphasize that the suspension happened before another event in the past. "Had been suspended" establishes a clearer sequence of events.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been suspended" functions as a past perfect passive construction. It describes an action (suspension) that was completed at some point before another action in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Science

7%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had been suspended" is a grammatically sound and frequently used past perfect passive construction, predominantly found in News & Media contexts. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, it's used to describe a state of suspension that existed before another event in the past. When writing, ensure that "had been suspended" is used to establish a clear sequence of events, avoiding potential confusion with simpler past tenses. Consider alternatives such as "was temporarily halted" or "was put on hold" for variety. Given its frequent occurrence in reliable sources like The New York Times and BBC, mastering its usage is crucial for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was temporarily halted

Focuses on the temporary cessation of something.

was put on hold

Emphasizes the act of pausing or delaying something.

was temporarily stopped

Highlights the cessation is not permanent.

was temporarily discontinued

Focuses on the break in the continuation of something.

was ceased temporarily

Inverted sentence structure.

was placed in abeyance

More formal, indicates a temporary state of inactivity or suspension.

was shelved

Suggests something is put aside, often indefinitely.

was interrupted

Highlights the action or event being stopped before its natural end.

was adjourned

Commonly used in formal settings, like meetings or court sessions, to indicate a temporary pause.

was put off

Suggests postponement to a later time.

FAQs

How to use "had been suspended" in a sentence?

Use "had been suspended" to describe a situation where something was previously suspended before another event occurred. For example, "The game "had been suspended" overnight because of rain, so we finished it the next day."

What can I say instead of "had been suspended"?

You can use alternatives like "was temporarily halted", "was put on hold", or "was temporarily stopped" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "had been suspended" or "was suspended"?

"Had been suspended" is used to indicate a past action completed before another point in the past. "Was suspended" simply indicates a past action. Use "had been suspended" when the sequence of past events is important.

What's the difference between "had been suspended" and "is suspended"?

"Had been suspended" refers to a past action that occurred before another point in the past, while "is suspended" refers to a present state of suspension.