had been worked out

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been worked out" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something has been resolved or figured out in the past, often in a passive construction. Example: "The details of the project had been worked out before the meeting took place."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Then, after Christmas, a plan had been worked out for Saturdays.

The New Yorker

The new racing wire had been worked out with the telephone company.

The New York Times

Clearly, Black's moves had been worked out before the tournament began.

The New York Times

By late Sunday, a settlement had been worked out and approved by the government.

The New York Times

When I returned the next week, his dosage had been worked out, and he was back to his lucid self.

The New Yorker

That, he said, had been worked out months earlier with the town comptroller and the town's bond counsel.

The New York Times

He flatly rejected proposals to achieve formal agreement on everything that had been worked out so far.

The New York Times

By 1966 the major elements of protein synthesis had been worked out, and Dr. Crick moved on.

The New York Times - Science

The sentence had been worked out beforehand in an agreement between the company and the Justice Department's antitrust division.

The New York Times

There are problems, of course, of overlapping, which I had supposed had been worked out between the prosecutors until this morning.

Yale University

The Tennessean reported Sunday night that a deal had been worked out between Radulov and his K.H.L. club, Salavat Yulaev Ufa, freeing Radulov to return to the N.H.L.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase, ensure that the context clearly indicates who or what did the "working out". If the actor is important, consider rephrasing to an active voice (e.g., "They had worked out the details.").

Common error

Avoid using "had been worked out" when you mean something is currently being worked on. This phrase implies a completed action in the past, not an ongoing process.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been worked out" functions as a passive construction in the past perfect tense. It indicates that a process of planning, resolving, or arranging was completed before a specific point in the past. Ludwig confirms the correct and common usage of this expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Academia

31%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been worked out" is a versatile phrase used to describe a past action of resolving, planning, or arranging something. Ludwig confirms its correct and common usage, particularly in news, academic, and scientific contexts. While generally neutral, consider formality when choosing alternatives. Use it to provide background or context, ensuring the tense aligns with your intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been resolved

Replaces "worked out" with a focus on problem-solving and reaching a solution.

had been arranged

Emphasizes the act of organizing or planning something in advance.

had been planned

Highlights the pre-determined nature of a course of action or agreement.

had been settled

Suggests that a disagreement or uncertainty has been resolved.

had been determined

Focuses on the act of establishing or deciding something definitively.

had been figured out

An informal alternative suggesting that something has been understood or solved.

had been thrashed out

Implies a more intense discussion or debate to reach a resolution.

had been ironed out

Suggests that minor problems or inconsistencies have been removed.

had been finalized

Highlights the completion of a process to make something definitive.

had been negotiated

Focuses on the process of discussion and compromise to reach an agreement.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "had been worked out" to sound more active?

Instead of using the passive voice "had been worked out", try using an active construction like "they had "worked out"" or "we had "figured out"" to emphasize who performed the action.

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

"Had been worked out" implies that the action of working out something was completed at some point before another action in the past. "Was worked out" simply indicates that the action occurred in the past, without necessarily specifying a relationship to another past event.

Is "had been worked out" formal or informal?

"Had been worked out" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, more formal alternatives like "had been resolved" or "had been determined" may be preferred in certain situations.

Can I use "had been worked out" to describe a future plan?

No, "had been worked out" is used to describe something that was completed in the past. To describe a future plan, you would use phrases like "will be worked out" or "is being worked out".