Used and loved by millions
Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
had well received
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "had well received" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form would typically be "had received well" or "had been well received." Example: "The proposal had been well received by the committee, leading to further discussions."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
56 human-written examples
"Upstream Color" and "Pit Stop," which she also stars in, had just had well-received premieres at Sundance.
News & Media
Mr. Hnath's "Isaac's Eye" and "A Public Reading of an Unproduced Screenplay About the Death of Walt Disney" had well-received New York runs earlier this year.
News & Media
The company said the Priv had been well received.
News & Media
The company said new products, including soups and steak and cheese rolls had been well received.
News & Media
Leaders of civic groups in Newark said Mr. Santiago had been well received by the public.
News & Media
In 1998 his short collection, After Attila, had been well received.
News & Media
Serjeant Musgrave had been well received there and Arden collaborated with several American theatre groups.
News & Media
But he said the performance had been well received by the audience and reviewers.
News & Media
The new framework has been implemented since November 2013 and has been well received by MSF researchers.
Science
"Mike's addition has been well received".
News & Media
"Expo has been well received in New Rochelle.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Always use the passive construction "had been well received" to correctly express that something was received positively in the past. For example: "The proposal had been well received by the committee."
Common error
Ensure the adverb "well" is correctly positioned. The phrase "had well received" reverses the proper order. Always use "had been well received" instead.
Source & Trust
60%
Authority and reliability
1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "had well received" is an incorrect past perfect construction intended to describe something that received a positive reception. As Ludwig AI indicates, the correct form is "had been well received."
Frequent in
Science
0%
News & Media
0%
Formal & Business
0%
Less common in
Science
0%
News & Media
0%
Formal & Business
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "had well received" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. The correct form is "had been well received". As indicated by Ludwig, the data confirms that the phrase does not appear in reliable sources. Ensure you use the correct passive construction to accurately convey that something was positively received in the past. Alternatives such as "was favorably received" or "met with approval" can also be used depending on the specific context.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
had been well received
Uses the passive voice to correctly indicate something was received positively.
had a positive reception
Replaces "well received" with "positive reception", keeping the same tense.
was favorably received
Uses "favorably" instead of "well" to describe the reception.
was greeted warmly
Emphasizes the warmth of the reception, changing the tone slightly.
met with approval
Focuses on the approval aspect of the reception.
was welcomed enthusiastically
Highlights the enthusiastic nature of the welcome.
enjoyed a good response
Shifts the focus to the response received, implying positive feedback.
was highly commended
Indicates that the subject was praised or lauded.
garnered acclaim
Uses a more formal term, "garnered", to indicate widespread praise.
proved popular
Indicates that the subject was successful and liked by many.
FAQs
What is the correct way to say something "had a good reception"?
The correct phrase is "had been well received". This passive construction accurately conveys that something was received positively.
Is "had well received" grammatically correct?
No, "had well received" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "had been well received".
What are some alternatives to "had been well received"?
Alternatives include "was favorably received", "met with approval", or "enjoyed a good response" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.
How can I use the phrase "had been well received" in a sentence?
Example: "The new policy had been well received by the employees, leading to increased productivity."
Editing plus AI, all in one place.
Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
60%
Authority and reliability
1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested