has been instructed

USAGE SUMMARY

'has been instructed' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that someone has been provided with instruction or an instruction has been given in a certain area. For example: The staff have been instructed to follow the new safety procedures.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Ward's pit crew has been instructed to wear pink helmets.

The New York Times - Sports

"While HMRC has been instructed to be 'co-operative', this will not continue indefinitely.

The Guardian - Money

Having suffered a heart attack at work, Daniel has been instructed by doctors to rest.

The Guardian - Film

It has been instructed to hold its shares in Cairn India.

The Guardian - Business

Flights have been grounded and the staff has been instructed to stay at home starting on Wednesday.

The New York Times

The navy has been instructed to prevent the convoy from entering Gaza's territorial waters while avoiding casualties.

Independent

The Navy has been instructed to apply the new measures throughout the western zone allotted to Italy.

The New York Times

The boy from the audience has been instructed to aim for "the nirvana somewhere between comedy and pain".

The New York Times

Our independently chaired Management & Standards Committee, which operates outside of News International, has been instructed to cooperate with the police.

The New York Times

"The manager of this theatre has been instructed, at the risk of his life, not to admit any persons after the picture starts".

The Guardian - Film

DAO apparently has been instructed to reach out to UNHCR (which is not an agency of the USG but of the United Nations), USAID, and State.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has been instructed", ensure that the context clearly indicates who issued the instruction and what the instruction entails. Clarity is key for effective communication.

Common error

Avoid using "has been instructed" without specifying who gave the instruction. Overuse of passive voice can make the writing vague and less impactful. Consider rephrasing to active voice when appropriate for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been instructed" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that someone has received instructions or directions. It highlights the recipient of the instruction rather than the giver. Ludwig examples show its wide applicability in various domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "has been instructed" is a common and grammatically correct passive voice construction used to indicate that someone has received instructions or directions. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is widely applicable across various domains, particularly in news, business, and formal writing. While it's crucial to ensure clarity by specifying who issued the instruction, the phrase serves effectively to convey that a specific directive has been given and action is expected. When aiming for more active and direct prose, consider rephrasing; alternatives like "has been directed" or "has been ordered" can add nuanced emphasis to the instruction given.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been directed

Implies a formal order or command was given.

has been ordered

Suggests a more forceful or official command.

has received instructions

Focuses on the act of receiving the guidance, rather than the giving of it.

is under orders

Emphasizes current state of obligation to carry out instructions.

is required to

Highlights the obligatory aspect of the instruction.

is expected to

Suggests a level of anticipation or assumption regarding compliance.

has been tasked with

Focuses on the responsibility or assignment aspect of instruction.

is duty-bound to

Emphasizes a moral or professional obligation.

has a mandate to

Highlights the authority and scope of the instructions.

is authorized to

Highlights that one has permission to carry out the following order or action

FAQs

How can I rephrase "has been instructed" for active voice?

To use active voice, identify the actor giving the instruction. For example, instead of "The staff "has been instructed" to clean", say "The manager instructed the staff to clean."

What's the difference between "has been instructed" and "has been directed"?

"Has been directed" implies a more formal or official command than ""has been instructed"". "Directed" often suggests a higher authority or a more specific purpose.

Is "has been instructed" formal or informal?

"Has been instructed" is generally considered neutral to formal. While appropriate in professional and news contexts, you might opt for more casual alternatives like "told" in informal settings.

What are some synonyms for "has been instructed"?

Depending on the context, you could use "has been directed", "has been ordered", "has received instructions", or "is required to" as alternatives to ""has been instructed"".