has been declined

USAGE SUMMARY

The grammatically correct sentence 'has been declined' is usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to discuss something that was officially refused, for example: "The application for a loan has been declined."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

However, the growing trend of water area, seas, shallows and forests has been declined, and the biggest declination was the forest which reached 10.09%.

Procedia Environmental Sciences

I see that this credit card has been declined.

The New Yorker

This week, Gibbons told me his application for Labour party membership has been declined.

The Guardian

What is the worst thing anyone's said to you? "Your credit card has been declined".

The Guardian - Arts

The Nobel Prize has been declined on only two occasions, although there have been waverers.

The Guardian - Books

Ashton has written to the UN secretary-general offering the military assets, but the overture has been declined.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

Spending has been declining.

The New York Times

Le Monde's circulation has been declining.

The New York Times

The population of New Orleans has been declining.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The number of stops has been declining.

The Economist

Manufacturing has been declining for 30 years.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been declined" when referring to a formal rejection or refusal, such as an application, request, or offer.

Common error

Be careful not to confuse "declined", which means refused or rejected, with "decreased", which means reduced in quantity or intensity. Ensure the context aligns with the intended meaning of refusal rather than reduction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been declined" functions as a passive voice construction of the verb 'decline'. It typically indicates that a request, offer, or application has been refused. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

29%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been declined" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to indicate that a request, offer, or application has been rejected. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and common usage. It is most frequently found in news and media sources, followed by scientific and academic contexts. When using this phrase, be mindful of potential confusion with similar terms like "decreased", and ensure the context clearly implies refusal rather than reduction. Alternative phrases like "was rejected" or "was refused" can be used to convey a similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been rejected

Similar to "has been declined" but emphasizes the act of rejection.

was rejected

Focuses on the act of being turned down or refused.

was refused

Emphasizes the act of someone denying a request or offer.

was denied

Focuses on the act of being refused something.

was turned down

An informal way of saying something was rejected.

was not accepted

Highlights the lack of acceptance of something.

was disapproved

Emphasizes a formal disapproval of something.

met with refusal

Highlights the experience of encountering a denial.

has decreased

Focuses on a reduction in quantity or quality, applicable in contexts where 'decline' refers to a downward trend.

has diminished

Suggests a reduction in importance or strength.

FAQs

What does "has been declined" mean?

The phrase "has been declined" means that something has been refused or rejected. For example, "The credit card has been declined" means the transaction was not approved.

What can I say instead of "has been declined"?

You can use alternatives like "was rejected", "was refused", or "was turned down" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "has been declined" or "was declined"?

Both "has been declined" and "was declined" are grammatically correct. "Has been declined" implies a more recent or ongoing relevance, while "was declined" refers to a completed action in the past.

When should I use "has been declined" versus "has decreased"?

"Has been declined" is appropriate when something is refused or rejected, such as an application. Use "has decreased" when referring to a reduction in quantity or intensity, such as "The number of sales has decreased".