had been wasted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been wasted" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a state of having been squandered or used up, often in relation to time, resources, or opportunities. Example: "By the time he realized the importance of the project, several months had been wasted on unproductive meetings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Half the morning had been wasted.

Independent

"All this time and money and energy had been wasted".

The New York Times

Adrenaline had been wasted, and some of the men were disappointed.

The New Yorker

Time, which is so critical in a murder case, had been wasted.

The New York Times - Books

That was the first time I felt that a life had been wasted.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Government auditors later determined that $1.5 billion of that had been wasted.

The New York Times

Then I remembered that one of his old school friends had been wasted in Afghanistan.

The Guardian

"He has all these talents that had been wasted all these years," she told me.

The New Yorker

He sat down with the sigh of a man whose time had been wasted.

The Guardian

8. Two of these candidates apologized for saying that American lives lost in the Iraq war had been "wasted".

The New Yorker

They said that they supported sending additional troops, that time had been wasted and the buildup was overdue.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing lost opportunities, use "had been wasted" to convey a sense of regret or missed potential. For example, "The chance to invest in the company had been wasted."

Common error

While "had been wasted" is grammatically correct, overuse of passive voice can make your writing sound weak. Consider rewriting the sentence in active voice for a more direct and impactful statement. Instead of "Time had been wasted on unnecessary meetings", try "We wasted time on unnecessary meetings".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been wasted" functions primarily as a verb phrase in the past perfect passive voice. This construction indicates that an action of wasting something was completed before another point in the past. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically sound and widely utilized.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

10%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been wasted" is a grammatically correct and commonly used verb phrase in the past perfect passive voice. As Ludwig AI confirms, the examples illustrate its application across diverse contexts, primarily within news, encyclopedias and science, conveying regret or criticism regarding past misuse of resources or opportunities. While versatile, careful attention should be given to avoiding overuse of the passive voice and selecting the most appropriate alternative, such as "was squandered" or "was lost", to precisely convey the intended meaning. By understanding its function, purpose, and register, writers can effectively utilize "had been wasted" to enhance clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was squandered

Focuses on the idea of resources being carelessly or foolishly spent, often implying a moral judgment.

was lost

Emphasizes the disappearance or irretrievability of something, without necessarily implying misuse.

was fruitless

Highlights the lack of positive results or outcomes from an effort or activity.

was unproductive

Emphasizes the ineffectiveness of an action or period in generating desired results.

was in vain

Suggests that an effort or sacrifice was ultimately unsuccessful or pointless.

was for naught

Similar to "was in vain", emphasizing the lack of positive outcome despite effort.

was dissipated

Implies that something was scattered or dispersed, leading to its loss or ineffectiveness.

was consumed

Focuses on the idea of something being used up or destroyed, often by a negative force.

was misspent

Highlights the incorrect or inappropriate use of resources, particularly time or money.

was ill-used

Emphasizes the poor or improper treatment of something, resulting in its loss of value.

FAQs

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

You can use "had been wasted" to indicate that something, such as time, money, or effort, was used ineffectively or squandered. For instance, "The opportunity for innovation "had been wasted" due to bureaucratic processes".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "had been wasted"?

Alternatives to "had been wasted" include "was squandered", "was lost", or "was fruitless", depending on the specific context you're trying to convey.

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

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but they are used in different contexts. "Has been wasted" refers to a present perfect tense, indicating something wasted up to the present moment, while "had been wasted" is past perfect, indicating something wasted before a specific point in the past. For example, "The morning has been wasted watching TV" vs. "The morning "had been wasted" before I even got to work".

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

"Had been wasted" is in the past perfect passive voice, indicating an action that was completed before a certain point in the past. "Was wasted" is in the simple past passive voice, indicating an action completed in the past. For example, "By the time they arrived, the food "had been wasted"" vs. "The food "was wasted" because no one ate it".