has been held

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been held" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in the past perfect tense to talk about an action that was completed before another action in the past. For example, "The Annual General Meeting has been held every year since 2008."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Hardly an auction has been held.

The Economist

A private family memorial has been held.

The New York Times

A private memorial has been held.

The New York Times

He has been held incommunicado since then.

The New York Times

He has been held ever since.

The Guardian

A private family service has been held.

The New York Times

He has been held since mid-2012.

The Guardian

Since then, he has been held incommunicado.

The New York Times

He has been held hostage by landowners.

The Guardian

No one has been held accountable.

The Guardian

For that he has been held accountable.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has been held" to describe an event, ensure that the context clearly indicates who or what organization was responsible for holding the event.

Common error

Avoid overuse of passive voice constructions like "has been held" if an active voice construction would be clearer and more direct. For instance, instead of "The meeting has been held by the committee", consider "The committee held the meeting".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been held" functions as a perfect passive construction, indicating that an action has been completed and its effect is still relevant. It is formed using the auxiliary verb 'have' in the present perfect tense, the past participle 'been', and the past participle of the main verb 'held'. This is validated by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

21%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has been held" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction that indicates a completed action with present relevance. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across various contexts. Predominantly found in News & Media and Science sources, the phrase serves to convey information about past events, meetings, or positions and their current status. While active voice is sometimes preferable for clarity, "has been held" remains a valuable and widely understood expression. Be mindful of potential misuse and consider alternative phrasing such as "took place" or "was conducted" for specific nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

took place

Highlights the occurrence of an event at a specific time and location, rather than the action of holding it.

occurred

Simply states that something happened, lacking the implication of an active agent 'holding' it.

was conducted

Focuses on the action of carrying out or performing something, rather than the state of being held.

was organized

Emphasizes the planning and arrangement aspect of an event, differing from simply stating it occurred.

was convened

Suggests a formal gathering or assembly, which is a more specific context than the general usage of "has been held".

was staged

Implies a deliberate and often theatrical presentation, different from the more general sense of 'held'.

was celebrated

Suggests a festive or commemorative occasion, which isn't always the case with something that "has been held".

was maintained

Focuses on the continuation or preservation of something, not necessarily an event or meeting.

was accommodated

Highlights the provision of space or facilities, rather than the act of holding something.

was fulfilled

Focuses on the completion or satisfaction of a requirement, which is different from holding an event or position.

FAQs

How is "has been held" used in a sentence?

"Has been held" indicates that something was held or conducted at some point in the past and continues to be the case or has relevance in the present. For example, "The election "has been held", and the results are expected soon."

What are some alternatives to "has been held"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "took place", "was conducted", or "was organized".

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

While "has been held" is grammatically correct, using the active voice can sometimes make your writing clearer and more direct. For example, instead of "The conference "has been held" by our organization", you could say "Our organization held the conference".

What does ""has been held" accountable" mean?

When someone ""has been held" accountable", it means they have been made responsible for their actions and are facing consequences. This phrase is often used in legal or ethical contexts.