has been broken

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been broken" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an event or process that has completed or come to an end. For example, "After months of negotiations, the long-running dispute between the two companies has been broken."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

No ground has been broken.

The New York Times

That circle has been broken.

Independent

A spell has been broken.

The Economist

THE spell has been broken.

The Economist

my heart has been broken.

The New York Times

Trust has been broken.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

"That has been broken..

Huffington Post

ITE has been broken into pic.twitter.com/lCMRiegmGE.

Huffington Post

At least the spell of Reagonomics has been broken.

The New Yorker

"The resistance has been broken down.

The New York Times

Iverson's spirit, it seems, has been broken.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been broken" to indicate that a rule, promise, or physical object is no longer intact or valid. Ensure the context clarifies what exactly has been broken.

Common error

Avoid using "has been broken" when a weaker term like 'bent' or 'dented' is more appropriate. "Has been broken" implies a significant or irreparable alteration.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been broken" functions as a passive construction in the present perfect tense, indicating that an action of breaking occurred at some point in the past and its effect persists in the present. Ludwig's examples showcase its usage in various contexts, such as promises or physical objects.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been broken" is a versatile phrase used to describe a state resulting from a past action of breaking, whether it's a physical object, a promise, or a rule. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely applicable. It appears most frequently in news and media, but also has representation across other fields like science and formal business. When using this phrase, ensure that the context makes clear what has been broken and the significance of this state. If you wish to use semantically similar phrases, you might consider alternatives like "has been breached" or "has been violated", depending on the specific nuance you aim to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been breached

Synonymous with "has been broken" when referring to rules, agreements, or security.

has been disrupted

Suggests an interruption or disturbance has occurred.

has been severed

Focuses on the act of cutting off or separating something entirely.

is now breached

Replaces 'broken' with 'breached', implying a violation or gap.

is currently invalid

Replaces 'broken' when referring to rules, contracts, or agreements that are no longer in effect.

is currently violated

Substitutes 'broken' with 'violated', emphasizing a transgression of rules or agreements.

has been shattered

Suggests a more forceful and complete breaking, implying ruin or destruction.

is now disrupted

Replaces 'broken' with 'disrupted', focusing on the interruption or disturbance of something.

is currently severed

Emphasizes a complete cut or separation, often used for relationships or connections.

is now fractured

Replaces 'broken' with 'fractured', implying division or fragmentation.

FAQs

How can I use "has been broken" in a sentence?

The phrase "has been broken" indicates that something is no longer intact, valid, or functioning as intended. For example, "The promise "has been broken"" or "The vase "has been broken"."

What are some alternatives to "has been broken"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "has been breached", "has been violated", or "has been disrupted".

Is it correct to say "was broken" instead of "has been broken"?

Both "was broken" and "has been broken" are grammatically correct, but they have different implications. "Was broken" refers to a past state, while "has been broken" implies that the state continues to the present. For example, "The window was broken yesterday" vs. "The window "has been broken", and it needs to be repaired."

What's the difference between "has been broken" and "is broken"?

"Has been broken" describes a completed action that resulted in the current state, while "is broken" describes the current state itself. For example, "The law "has been broken" (so now we have to decide what to do)" versus "The toy "is broken" (so I can't play with it now)."