has been held back

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been held back" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone or something has been prevented from progressing or advancing. Example: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, her career has been held back for several years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But investment has been held back because of uncertainty over the economy's future prospects.

The New York Times

Mr Howard has been held back by his lack of a Senate majority.

The Economist

Ghilarducci said her proposal has been held back by the same challenges hindering retirement savings overall.

The Washington Post

The horse has been held back by issues including a fibrillating heart.

The Guardian - Sport

Hollis says that recognition of ADHD has been held back by misunderstanding.

The Guardian

A roster loaded with individual talent has been held back by the quarterback.

The Guardian - Sport

But he has been held back by a lack of resources, manpower and meaningful government support.

The Guardian

Experimentation has been held back by the lack of English-language manuals describing the source code.

The New York Times - Tech

Henriquez has been held back by a poor work ethic, leading to weight problems.

The New York Times - Sports

Worse, the roll-out of broadband has been held back by obstructive telecoms incumbents, regulatory obstacles and infighting.

The Economist

Those problems were smoothed out, but Airbus has been held back by other factors, including high costs.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has been held back", ensure that the reason for the delay or obstruction is clearly stated to provide context and clarity to the reader. For example, "The project has been held back by funding issues".

Common error

Avoid using "has been held back" without specifying the cause of the delay. Saying "progress has been held back" is less effective than "progress has been held back due to a lack of resources".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been held back" functions as a passive verb construction, indicating that the subject of the sentence has experienced an action that prevented forward movement or progress. The use of "has been" indicates a continuing state or impact from a past action.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "has been held back" is a versatile passive construction used to describe situations where progress or development has been impeded. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and commonly used across various domains, particularly in news and media, academia and formal business settings.

When using "has been held back", it's important to clearly state the reason for the delay to provide context. Alternatives such as ""has been hindered"" or ""has been delayed"" offer nuanced ways to express similar meanings. By understanding its grammatical function, purpose and appropriate contexts, writers can effectively use "has been held back" to convey a lack of progress and its causes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been hindered

Indicates a delay or obstruction in progress, similar to "has been held back" but emphasizes the difficulty encountered.

has been impeded

Suggests a more forceful obstruction than "has been held back", implying a significant barrier.

has been delayed

Focuses specifically on the postponement aspect, whereas "has been held back" can imply a more permanent obstruction.

has been restrained

Highlights the act of being kept under control or limited, differing slightly from the broader sense of being prevented from advancing.

has been suppressed

Suggests a deliberate act of preventing something from developing or being expressed, adding a connotation of control.

has been curtailed

Implies a reduction or limitation in scope or extent, distinct from a complete halt in progress.

has been stifled

Emphasizes the suppression of growth or development, suggesting a suffocating effect.

has been checked

Indicates a sudden stop or pause in progress, often temporary.

has been constrained

Highlights limitations and restrictions, implying external pressures causing the delay.

has been hampered

Suggests that difficulties or obstacles have slowed progress, emphasizing the challenging nature of the situation.

FAQs

How can I use "has been held back" in a sentence?

You can use "has been held back" to indicate that something or someone has been prevented from progressing or advancing. For example, "The company's growth "has been held back" by the recent economic downturn".

What are some alternatives to using "has been held back"?

Alternatives include "has been hindered", "has been impeded", or "has been delayed", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "has been hold back" instead of "has been held back"?

No, "has been hold back" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is ""has been held back"", using the past participle "held".

What is the difference between "has been held back" and "was held back"?

"Has been held back" implies that the holding back started in the past and continues to have an effect in the present. "Was held back" refers to a single event in the past that caused a delay or obstruction at that time.