has been handed

USAGE SUMMARY

'has been handed' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that was given to somebody in the past. For example: "[The document] has been handed to the board members for review."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Well, the verdict has been handed down.

The New York Times

He has been handed over to prosecutors.

The Economist

The dossier has been handed to investigators.

Independent

A letter has been handed to her.

The New Yorker

Gulliver has been handed plenty of closed cans on planes.

The Economist

So far, barely 5% has been handed over.

The Economist

Technology has been handed to, or stolen by, the Chinese.

The Economist

A similar tale has been handed down in mine.

The New York Times - Books

The death sentence has been handed out in similar cases.

The Guardian

But at least he has been handed the ammunition to stave off the desires.

The New York Times - Sports

They say it has been handed on from father to son ever since it happened.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been handed" to indicate that something has been formally given or assigned to someone, often implying a degree of responsibility or expectation. For example, "The project has been handed to the new team leader."

Common error

Avoid overusing the passive voice (as in "has been handed") when a more direct, active voice would make your writing clearer and more impactful. For example, instead of "The decision has been handed down by the committee", consider "The committee handed down the decision".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been handed" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject has received something, whether it be a physical item, a responsibility, or an opportunity. As seen in Ludwig, this construction is frequently employed in news and media to report on assignments, decisions, and transfers.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Formal & Business

17%

Science

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has been handed" is a versatile passive construction used to describe the act of giving or assigning something, whether it be a responsibility, an object, or an opportunity. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts, including news, formal communications, and general conversation. It's crucial to consider whether the passive voice is the most effective choice compared to a more direct active voice. This phrase is most frequently found in news and media sources. Remember to use it when you want to emphasize that the subject received something.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was given

Focuses on the simple act of receiving something.

was assigned

Highlights the allocation of a task or responsibility.

was granted

Emphasizes permission or privilege being given.

was passed down

Implies a transfer through generations or a lineage.

was transferred

Suggests a shift of something from one entity to another.

was delivered

Highlights the act of bringing something to a destination or recipient.

was bequeathed

Focuses on giving something as an inheritance.

was entrusted with

Emphasizes the responsibility and trust involved in giving something.

was conferred upon

Implies bestowing an honor or right.

was yielded

Suggests surrendering or relinquishing control.

FAQs

How is "has been handed" typically used in a sentence?

The phrase "has been handed" is used in the passive voice to indicate that something has been given or assigned to someone. For example, "The responsibility "has been handed" to the new manager."

What are some alternatives to "has been handed"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "was given", "was assigned", or "was transferred" instead of "has been handed". For example, instead of "The task "has been handed" to him", you could say "The task "was assigned" to him."

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "has been handed"?

While "has been handed" is in the passive voice, consider whether the active voice might be more direct and impactful. For example, instead of "The award "has been handed" to her", you could say "They handed her the award."

What's the difference between "has been handed" and "was given"?

"Has been handed" often implies a formal or official transfer, while "was given" is more general. You might say "The responsibility "has been handed" to the department head", but "He "was given" a gift".