had ever been done

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had ever been done" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in contexts discussing past actions or events, often in relation to comparisons or experiences. Example: "This was the most challenging project that had ever been done in our department."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

But nothing like this had ever been done before.

The New York Times - Magazine

They did like, the biggest glass panes that had ever been done.

The New York Times - Arts

Both men were amazed that no biodiversity survey had ever been done there.

The New York Times

Nothing like that had ever been done to a television star before -- not even Lassie.

The New York Times - Arts

Nothing like this had ever been done before, but what did it mean?

The New York Times - Science

"No organized preservation had ever been done in New York City before we came along," Mr. Pearsall said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

"I don't think this has ever been done before.

BBC

"Nothing like it has ever been done before".

The New York Times

"Nothing like this has ever been done before".

The Guardian - Music

"This is significant," Ms. Redding said, "because the only research that has ever been done on injuries has been retrospective".

The New York Times - Arts

"But I don't believe this has ever been done before anywhere in the country.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had ever been done" to emphasize the unprecedented nature of an action or event. It adds a sense of uniqueness or novelty.

Common error

Avoid using "had ever been done" in present tense contexts. This phrase refers to past actions, so ensure the surrounding sentence structure reflects this.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had ever been done" functions as a past perfect passive construction. Ludwig AI confirms that it signifies an action completed before a specific time in the past, emphasizing its unprecedented nature up to that point. It typically modifies a noun or clause, providing additional information about its uniqueness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

28%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had ever been done" is a grammatically correct and commonly used past perfect passive construction that signifies something unprecedented or novel up to a certain point in the past. Ludwig AI validates its appropriate use in diverse contexts, from news and media to scientific research. It's essential to use it in past tense contexts and with attention to alternatives like "had previously been done" to enhance the message with the correct tone and level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had previously been done

Emphasizes the action occurred before a specific point in time, adding a temporal dimension.

had been done before

Highlights the existence of prior instances, removing the emphasis on 'ever'.

had at any time been done

Adds emphasis on whether the action occurred at any moment in the past.

had been performed until then

Replaces 'done' with 'performed' for a more formal tone and specifies a time limit.

had been accomplished previously

Uses "accomplished" instead of "done" for a more formal context.

had hitherto been done

Replaces commonly used "done" with a more literary term "hitherto".

had formerly been executed

Substitutes "done" with "executed" emphasizing the execution of the action.

had been undertaken ever before

Changes 'done' to 'undertaken' to emphasize the beginning of an action ever happened before.

had happened at any time

Simplified to focus on the occurrence of an event, rather than the action of doing.

had been put into effect previously

Uses 'put into effect' instead of 'done' for a more detailed explanation.

FAQs

What does "had ever been done" mean?

The phrase "had ever been done" signifies that something is unprecedented or has never occurred before a specific point in the past. It emphasizes the novelty or uniqueness of an action or event.

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

Using "has ever been done" implies a continuing relevance to the present, while "had ever been done" refers strictly to the past. The choice depends on whether the timeframe extends to the present moment. For example, use "has ever been done" if speaking about some recent situations.

What are some alternatives to "had ever been done"?

You can use alternatives such as "had previously been done", "had been done before", or "had at any time been done" depending on the specific context.

How can I use "had ever been done" in a sentence?

To correctly use "had ever been done", ensure your sentence refers to a past event and that the action is being compared to all prior occurrences. Example: "Nothing like this "had ever been done" before, but what did it mean?"