has been once

USAGE SUMMARY

"has been once" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you want to say that something has happened but not more than once. For example, "This restaurant has been once visited by a famous actor."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

She has been once or twice out of curiosity, "but didn't understand it much".

The Economist

And our national tendency toward amateur criminology has been, once again, engaged.

The New Yorker

Science fiction therefore has been once again making tentative overtures to biotechnology, although a relationship has existed at least since Mary Shelley's Frankenstein was published.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Rather, we must never stop pressing them to honor their commitments, never letting them off the hook until female genital mutilation has been once and for all eliminated the world over.

The New York Times

NEW YORK — Harry K. Thaw, the slayer of Stanford White, has been once again trying to prove that he has now regained his reason and is entitled to be liberated from the Matteawan State Asylum for the Insane.

The New York Times

Many Frenchwomen have been outraged by the speed with which Mr. Strauss-Kahn has been once again embraced as a possible candidate for President, while the felony charges against him remain.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

Built in 1920, it had been, once.

The New York Times

"I've been once, and I hated it," Madeley declares.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Timothy Carner, said Private Chen had been once discovered sleeping in a portable toilet.

The New York Times

"Is there a Signor Vanni?" "There would have been once, yes".

The New York Times - Arts

And this year concerns over child obesity have been once again making national headlines.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been once" to clearly indicate that an event or situation occurred a single time and is not a recurring phenomenon. For example, "The measure has been tried once before, in 1997."

Common error

Avoid using "has been once" when a simpler phrasing like "occurred once" or "happened only once" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound awkward or unnatural.

Linguistic Context

Adverbial Modifier. "Has been once" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying the frequency or number of times an event or action has occurred. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and is commonly used to indicate a singular occurrence.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been once" is a grammatically correct phrase used to specify that an event or action has occurred a single time. While Ludwig AI affirms its correctness, it's important to consider context and potential for simpler alternatives like "occurred once" to maintain clarity and conciseness. Primarily found in News & Media and Scientific contexts, it serves to provide specific frequency information. Pay attention to alternative phrasings like "happened only once", avoid overuse, and remember its proper function as an adverbial modifier.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has only been

Emphasizes the limited number of occurrences.

only happened once

Directly states the single occurrence of an event.

occurred once

Replaces "has been" with a more direct verb indicating a single instance of happening.

happened one time

Uses simpler language to convey the idea of a single occurrence.

was a one-time event

Emphasizes the singularity of the event, framing it as unique.

was a solitary occasion

Highlights the uniqueness and infrequency of the event.

existed at one point

Focuses on the past existence of something, implying it no longer exists.

previously existed

Highlights the prior existence without specifying the number of times.

was formerly

Indicates a past state or condition that is no longer current.

used to be

Conveys a past state that is different from the present.

FAQs

How can I use "has been once" in a sentence?

Use "has been once" to indicate a single, non-repeating occurrence of something in the past. For example, "The product "has been once" recalled due to a manufacturing defect."

What are some alternatives to "has been once"?

Consider using phrases like "occurred once", "happened only once", or "was a one-time event" depending on the specific context you want to convey. These alternatives can provide more concise or nuanced meanings.

Is it grammatically correct to say "has been once"?

Yes, "has been once" is grammatically correct. It is used to indicate that something has happened a single time. However, ensure it fits the context and isn't redundant.

What's the difference between "has been once" and "has been before"?

"Has been once" specifies a single occurrence, while "has been before" implies that something has happened at least one time, possibly more. The key difference is the emphasis on the exact number of occurrences.