had been visited

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been visited" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in the past perfect tense to indicate that an action was completed before another action in the past. Example: "The museum had been visited by thousands of tourists before it closed for renovations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She had been visited.

The New Yorker

Lord Pearson, Ukip's leader, said Mr Farage had been visited by his wife in hospital.

Independent

And through last Friday afternoon, it had been visited by 293,586 users.

The New York Times

They said they had been visited by American investigators, but had not been fully interviewed.

The New York Times

Some, but not all, had been visited by American troops headed north toward Baghdad.

The Washington Post

And in his Bible-haunted state, many said a terrible judgment had been visited upon him.

The New York Times

Three times before Damon's hit, Rivera had been visited on the mound.

The New York Times

A counter on his CarSpace page said it had been visited nearly 250 times.

The New York Times

Those living in remote areas had been visited by the electoral commission over recent weeks.

The Guardian

Others huddled in bomb shelters, where they had been visited by Mr. Barak on Thursday night.

The New York Times

they had been visited, for the first time in their lives, by an apparition of freedom".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been visited" to clearly indicate that the act of visiting occurred at some point before another event in the past. This helps establish a clear chronological sequence.

Common error

Avoid using "had been visited" when the context requires a simpler past tense ("was visited"). "Had been visited" is most appropriate when describing an event that preceded another past event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been visited" functions as the past perfect passive voice, indicating that something or someone was visited before a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been visited" is a grammatically correct and frequently used past perfect passive construction, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It effectively conveys that an act of visiting took place before another event in the past. Its versatility allows it to be used across diverse contexts, from news reports to scientific papers. While "was visited" can be a simpler alternative, "had been visited" is essential for establishing clear chronological order and is widely accepted in formal, neutral, and even informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had received a visit

Focuses on the act of receiving rather than the action of visiting.

had been inspected

Emphasizes a formal examination or evaluation.

had been checked on

Highlights a welfare assessment or verification.

had been toured

Suggests a guided exploration of a place.

had been surveyed

Highlights data collection or reconnaissance.

had been accessed

Emphasizes the ability to gain entry or use something.

had been explored

Focuses on investigation and discovery.

had been reached

Focuses on successful communication or contact.

had been frequented

Emphasizes habitual visitation.

had been haunted

Suggests a recurring, often unwanted, presence.

FAQs

How do I use "had been visited" in a sentence?

Use "had been visited" to describe an action of visiting that occurred before another action in the past. For instance, "The site "had been visited" previously only by looters."

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

"Was visited" indicates a simple past passive action, while "had been visited" indicates a past perfect passive action. Use "had been visited" when you want to emphasize that the visiting occurred before another past event. For example: "The house "was visited" by the police," versus "The house "had been visited" by the police before the fire started."

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

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "had received a visit", "had been inspected", or "had been checked on".

Is "had been visited by" grammatically correct?

Yes, "had been visited by" is grammatically correct. It specifies the agent that performed the action. Example: "He "had been visited" by Special Branch officers."