had not been established

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had not been established" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was not set up or confirmed at a certain point in time in the past. Example: "The guidelines for the project had not been established before the deadline, leading to confusion among the team members."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

That had not been established before".

The New York Times

The source of the explosions had not been established.

The Guardian

Whellams said the true reason behind the attack had not been established.

The Guardian

The old guideposts were gone, and new ones had not been established.

The New York Times - Magazine

Greg Aiello, a league spokesman, said the facts of the case had not been established yet.

The New York Times - Sports

He said it had not been established how old the fingerprints were, or how long Abdeslam spent in the apartment.

The Guardian

In its beginning, e-mail was a format for which the appropriate protocol had not been established.

The New Yorker

The British said the investigation was still in its early stages, and the cause had not been established.

The New York Times

Given the industry's overall growth, some participants in the process seemed surprised that a commonly agreed upon ratings standard had not been established earlier.

The New York Times

In 2012, the cabinet found the defence of duress had not been established and revoked his citizenship for the third time.

The Guardian

Jody Fischer, a school spokesman, said a search committee had not been established yet and no timetable had been set for a replacement.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had not been established" to clearly indicate that a rule, fact, or system was not in place at a specific point in the past. For example, "The safety protocols for the new machinery had not been established before its initial use."

Common error

Avoid using "had not been established" when you mean something was simply not found or discovered. "Established" implies a process of setting up or proving, not just a lack of detection. Instead, use "had not been discovered" or "remained unknown".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had not been established" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect passive voice. It indicates that a particular condition, rule, or system was not yet in place or proven at a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its common use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

11%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had not been established" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to indicate that something was not yet set up or confirmed at a specific point in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is frequently found in news, science, and encyclopedic contexts, conveying a sense of lack of prior existence or verification. While it is essential for expressing past uncertainty or absence, it's important to differentiate its meaning from similar phrases, ensuring clarity in writing. When using the phrase, consider the best practices outlined, and avoid common pitfalls such as confusing it with the simple absence of something. By understanding these nuances, writers can effectively utilize "had not been established" in their work.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was not yet established

Replaces "had" with "was" and "been" with "yet", slightly altering the tense and emphasizing the state of being.

had yet to be established

Adds emphasis on the passage of time and expectation.

had not been determined

Focuses on the lack of a decision or conclusion, rather than the creation or setup of something.

had not been created

Emphasizes the absence of creation or formation.

had not been proven

Highlights the lack of evidence or verification.

had not been instituted

Focuses on the lack of formal implementation or introduction.

had not been implemented

Highlights that a plan or system was not put into effect.

had not been set up

Emphasizes the absence of arrangement or preparation.

had not been founded

Focuses on the lack of establishment of an institution or organization.

remained unestablished

Uses an adjective to describe the state of not being established.

FAQs

How can I use "had not been established" in a sentence?

Use "had not been established" to indicate that something was not yet set up or confirmed at a particular time in the past. For instance, "The connection between the two events "had not been established" before the investigation concluded."

What are some alternatives to "had not been established"?

You can use alternatives such as "was not yet established", "had not been determined", or "remained unestablished" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "was not established" instead of "had not been established"?

While "was not established" is grammatically correct, ""had not been established"" specifies that something was not established before a certain point in the past, making it more precise in certain contexts.

What's the difference between "had not been established" and "has not been established"?

"Had not been established" refers to a time in the past, while "has not been established" implies that something is currently not established but could be in the future.