had been written

USAGE SUMMARY

"had been written" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that happened in the past but before something else that also happened in the past. For example, "The letter had been written before I heard back from them."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Scripts had been written, and rewritten.

The New York Times - Magazine

Not one line had been written.

The New York Times

Almost no lyric poems had been written.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Mein Kampf had been written.

The Guardian

It had been written as Look Ahead.

The Guardian

A draft news release had been written.

The New York Times

The first had been written amid some difficulty.

Independent

(Her character, Kalinda, had been written off the show).

The New Yorker

Perhaps two-thirds of his best poems had been written.

The New Yorker

Our ending had been written for us at the start.

The New York Times

I didn't say how the first draft had been written.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been written", ensure that the context provides a clear reference point in the past to which the writing is being related. Without this, the temporal relationship may be unclear.

Common error

A common mistake is using "was written" when "had been written" is more appropriate. "Was written" implies a simple past action, whereas "had been written" indicates an action completed before another point in the past. For instance, avoid saying "The report was written before the meeting" if you mean to emphasize that the writing preceded the meeting; instead, use "The report "had been written" before the meeting".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been written" functions as the past perfect passive voice of the verb "write". It indicates that an action of writing was completed at some point before another action in the past. Ludwig confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Academia

24%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been written" is a grammatically correct and versatile phrase used to indicate that an action of writing occurred before another event in the past. Ludwig's analysis confirms its frequent use across various contexts, including News & Media, Academia, and Wiki. It's important to use this phrase when establishing a clear sequence of past events, ensuring that the context provides a reference point. Common errors involve using the simple past passive ("was written") instead. By following these guidelines, writers can effectively use "had been written" to enhance clarity and precision in their writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been composed

Replaces "written" with "composed", implying a more formal or artistic creation of the text.

had been authored

Emphasizes the act of creation and ownership of the text by a specific person or entity.

was written

Uses the simple past passive tense instead of the past perfect passive, suggesting the action occurred at a specific point in the past, not necessarily before another past action.

had been formulated

Indicates the text was carefully structured and expressed in a clear and precise manner.

had been drafted

Suggests the text was created as a preliminary version or outline.

had been prepared

Highlights the process of getting the text ready or making it suitable for a specific purpose.

had been penned

Substitutes "written" with "penned", evoking a more literary or old-fashioned tone.

had been documented

Focuses on the act of formally recording or archiving information.

had been recorded

Implies the information was documented or captured in a permanent form, often aurally or visually.

had been inscribed

Suggests the text was carefully and deliberately marked or engraved onto a surface.

FAQs

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

Use "had been written" to indicate that something was written before another event in the past. For example, "The song "had been written" before the band even formed".

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

You can use alternatives like "was written", "had been composed", or "had been authored" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "had been written" or "was written"?

Both are correct but they have different meanings. "Had been written" indicates an action completed before another action in the past. "Was written" indicates an action that simply occurred in the past.

What's the difference between "had been written" and "is written"?

"Had been written" is in the past perfect passive voice and refers to something that was written in the past. "Is written" is in the present passive voice, referring to something that is currently written.