has been postmarked

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been postmarked" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a letter or package that has been stamped by the postal service to indicate the date and location of mailing. Example: "The letter has been postmarked, confirming that it was sent on the specified date."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

As long as a mail-in ballot has been postmarked by election day Tuesday and received within three days, it must be counted by state law.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Officials said they expected that that would be the final tally, because applications had to have been postmarked by May 15.

The New York Times

To be counted, those ballots must have been postmarked by Election Day and must arrive by Nov. 17.

The New York Times

But the letters to Mr. Brokaw and Mr. Daschle, it turned out, had a New Jersey connection: they had been postmarked in Trenton.

The New York Times

In Newark, F.B.I. officials said the letter to Mr. Daschle had been postmarked in Trenton, but they would provide no further details.

The New York Times

If Muhammad al-Maqalih, the online editor of an opposition publication, had tried last autumn to send a postcard, for example, it would have been postmarked from an unknown prison.

The New York Times

She had been checking the headlines on the Internet that afternoon when she happened upon a news bulletin: an anthrax-laced letter had been found in New York that had been postmarked at the Hamilton Township mail-sorting center near Trenton.

The New York Times

It was meant to be a simple reminder from Ms. Harris, similar to those her predecessors had routinely sent out, that state election rules required overseas ballots to have been "postmarked or signed and dated" by Election Day.

The New York Times

As best as investigators could tell, the letter had been postmarked on the same day, or the day after, Berman was killed.

Los Angeles Times

"It's not always possible to date a card because frequently the postmark has been worn off or just never was clear enough to read," Mr. Wamback said.

The New York Times

But once again, considerable confusion reigned here, as election officials in several Florida counties expressed uncertainty about the proper handling of absentee ballots mailed from overseas, and whether they had to be postmarked by Election Day, Nov. 7, or simply bear a foreign postmark and be filled out by then, as state election officials say regulations stipulate.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has been postmarked", ensure the context clearly indicates the significance of the postmark date, especially in legal or time-sensitive situations. The postmark serves as official verification of when the item was sent.

Common error

Avoid assuming the postmark date is the same as the date the recipient receives the item. Delays in transit can cause significant differences, which could affect deadlines or legal requirements. Always check receipt confirmation when available.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been postmarked" functions as a past participle phrase used in the passive voice. It indicates that an action (postmarking) has been completed on a subject (e.g., a letter or ballot). As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is both grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

17%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been postmarked" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, as verified by Ludwig AI. It functions as a past participle phrase in the passive voice, signifying that an item has received an official postal stamp, primarily to validate mailing dates. While found in various source types, it's most common in News & Media contexts. When using the phrase, consider that postmark dates may differ from receipt dates due to transit delays. Related phrases like "was stamped" or "bears a postmark" offer alternative ways to express the same idea.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was stamped

Focuses on the action of stamping, a direct synonym emphasizing the physical marking process.

received a postmark

Highlights the event of acquiring a postmark, shifting focus to the mail item's state.

bears a postmark

Emphasizes the presence of a postmark as evidence of mailing, highlighting its informational aspect.

has been mailed

Indicates the action of sending something through the postal service, a broader term implying postmarking.

was processed by the post office

Describes the handling of mail by postal services, broader concept suggesting postmarking as part of the process.

has an official mail stamp

Emphasizes the official nature and function of the postmark as proof of postage.

carries a cancellation mark

Refers to the cancellation mark applied during postmarking, a more technical description.

is officially recorded as mailed

Focuses on the formal record of mailing implied by a postmark, shifting emphasis to documentation.

has passed through postal services

Highlights the passage of an item through the postal system, inferring postmarking.

was marked by the postal service

Describes the action of the postal service in marking the item, emphasizing the agent.

FAQs

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

You can use "has been postmarked" to indicate that a mail item has received an official postal stamp, for example: "The ballot "has been postmarked" by election day and will be counted".

What are some alternatives to saying "has been postmarked"?

Alternatives include "was stamped", "received a postmark", or "bears a postmark", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Why is it important that something "has been postmarked"?

The postmark serves as official verification of when an item was sent, which is crucial for meeting deadlines, legal requirements, and establishing a timeline.

What information does a postmark provide?

A postmark typically includes the date, time, and location where the mail item was processed by the postal service, providing key information for tracking and verification.