had been withheld

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been withheld" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was kept back or not given to someone in the past. Example: "The evidence had been withheld during the trial, raising questions about the fairness of the proceedings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I felt anger because I sensed that this information had been withheld from me deliberately.

The New Yorker

Shrestha said he immediately understood why workers' passports had been withheld.

The Guardian

Until recently, however, the names on the N.S.A.'s target list had been withheld.

The New Yorker

(No information had been withheld; rather, that element of the tale was lost in translation).

The New Yorker

Pfizer, Roche and Sanofi all said a few products had been withheld.

The Guardian

In his last years Chaplin was accorded many of the honours that had been withheld from him for so long.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Because such a key piece of evidence had been withheld, Alsup delayed the start of the trial.

The Guardian - Tech

But the report ends on page 53 with a note saying that the rest of the report had been withheld.

The Guardian

Attorney General Mitchell termed the report "absolutely false" and said that nothing had been withheld from any Senator.

The New York Times

The key issue was that this information had been withheld from Norfolk people "by patronising and centralising outsiders".

The Guardian

A senior BBC source told me it was "surprising if pertinent government information had been withheld from the inquiry".

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been withheld", ensure the context clearly identifies who withheld the information and from whom. This enhances clarity and prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "had been withheld" when an active voice construction is more appropriate. For example, instead of "The truth had been withheld by them", consider "They had withheld the truth" for directness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been withheld" functions as a passive perfect construction, indicating that something (information, evidence, funds, etc.) was kept back or not provided before a specific point in time. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating its application across various domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been withheld" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive perfect construction, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It indicates that something was kept back or not provided before a specific time. As demonstrated in the examples from Ludwig, its function is to highlight the act of keeping something back, often with implications of secrecy or wrongdoing. The phrase is most commonly found in news and media contexts, but is suitable for formal and professional use as well. When using "had been withheld", clarity is key: ensure the context specifies who withheld the information and from whom to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been concealed

Emphasizes the act of hiding something intentionally.

had been suppressed

Highlights the forceful prevention of information from being known.

had been kept secret

Focuses on maintaining confidentiality.

had been kept back

A more general term for not releasing or sharing something.

had not been disclosed

Directly states the lack of revelation of information.

had been unrevealed

Indicates that something remained unknown or uncovered.

had been undisclosed

Similar to 'had not been disclosed', but slightly more formal.

had been secreted

Implies a careful and secretive hiding of something.

had been cordoned off

Focuses on the physical restriction and prevention of access.

had been embargoed

Specifies a formal prohibition on publishing or releasing information.

FAQs

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

"Had been withheld" indicates that something was kept back or not given. For example, "The key evidence "had been withheld" during the trial, affecting the outcome."

What are some alternatives to "had been withheld"?

Alternatives include phrases like "had been concealed", "had been suppressed", or "had been kept secret", each emphasizing a slightly different aspect of keeping information back.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "had been withheld"?

While "had been withheld" is in the passive voice, sometimes an active construction is clearer. For instance, instead of "The information "had been withheld" by the company", you could say "The company withheld the information".

What's the difference between "had been withheld" and "had been hidden"?

While both suggest something was not revealed, ""had been withheld"" implies a deliberate act of keeping something back, whereas "had been hidden" simply means it was not found or visible.