had been sustained

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been sustained" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has been maintained or continued over a period of time, often in a past context. Example: "The support for the project had been sustained through various funding sources over the years."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Three key interactions between factors influencing program sustainability and characteristics of program sustainability accounted for how the program had been sustained.

BMC Health Services Research

Even if this objection had been sustained, the difficulty could have been easily obviated by amendment.

Cornell University

There was no evidence however that aerial intervention from Nato had been sustained and heavy enough to turn the tide.

The Telegraph

El-Badry and others emphasized that many of the deaths and casualties had been sustained on the Brotherhood's side.

The New Yorker

Throughout his successful climb through Fleet Street John had been sustained by his wife, Madge, and three sons.

The Guardian

He later posted a photo showing a chipped tooth which he said had been sustained during the scuffle.

The Guardian

They wanted to do whatever they could to help heal some of the wounds that had been sustained.

The New York Times

Mrs. Mary Haise, wearing a navy blue maternity dress she is seven months pregnant said that she also had been sustained since Monday by her faith in God.

The New York Times

"We didn't know what to do," said Ignacio G. Lopez, 23, who had been sustained by the clinic for more than three years.

The New York Times

"He trained well, pretty well," Del Bosque said of Fábregas, an x-ray having revealed that no fracture had been sustained.

The Guardian - Sport

The injuries had been sustained, the inmate claimed, when a group of guards had dragged him, handcuffed, into a hallway and stomped on him.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been sustained", ensure the context clearly indicates what was maintained or supported and for how long. This provides clarity and strengthens the impact of your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "had been sustained" without specifying the period over which the maintenance occurred. For example, instead of saying "the project had been sustained", specify "the project had been sustained for five years" to provide a clear temporal context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been sustained" functions as a past perfect passive construction. It indicates that an action of sustaining or maintaining something occurred before a specific point in the past. Ludwig examples show its usage in describing the continuation of support, conditions, or effort.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

35%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had been sustained" is a versatile past perfect passive construction used to describe something that has been maintained or continued over a period of time leading up to a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness and widespread use. It is prevalent across various domains, including news, science, and academia, indicating its broad applicability. When using this phrase, clarity is key; be sure to provide sufficient context regarding what was sustained and the duration of its maintenance. Alternatives such as ""had been maintained"", ""had been upheld"", and ""had been supported"" offer nuanced ways to express similar ideas, depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been maintained

This alternative emphasizes the continuation of a specific condition or state.

had been upheld

This suggests that something was supported and kept from failing or being questioned.

had been supported

This highlights the act of providing assistance or resources to keep something going.

had been continued

This alternative focuses on the uninterrupted progression of an action or state.

had been prolonged

This implies that something was extended beyond its expected duration.

had been preserved

This alternative stresses the effort to keep something intact and unchanged.

had been retained

This indicates that something was kept or held onto.

had been endured

This highlights that something was tolerated or withstood despite difficulties.

had been fostered

This suggests the nurturing and encouragement of something to grow or develop.

had been fueled

This implies that something was given energy or impetus to continue.

FAQs

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

You can use "had been sustained" to describe something that has been maintained or continued over a period of time. For example, "The momentum "had been sustained" throughout the campaign."

What are some alternatives to "had been sustained"?

Alternatives include "had been maintained", "had been upheld", or "had been supported". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "has been sustained" instead of "had been sustained"?

While both are grammatically correct, "has been sustained" refers to something continuing up to the present, whereas "had been sustained" refers to something maintained up to a point in the past.

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

"Had been sustained" indicates a past perfect passive construction, emphasizing that the sustaining action occurred before a specific point in the past. "Was sustained" is simple past passive, indicating the sustaining action occurred in the past.