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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
has been previously used
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "has been previously used" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is commonly used to indicate that something has been used before, or to refer to the past use of something. Example: This car has been previously used by one owner and is now being sold as a secondhand vehicle.
✓ Grammatically correct
Science
News & Media
Academia
Alternative expressions(1)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
60 human-written examples
Finally, we have adopted an emotional assessment scheme that has been previously used by psychologists44.
Science & Research
Indeed, fMRI has been previously used to characterize the auditory pathway in humans and in rats.
Science
GI electrical stimulation has been previously used successfully in the management of postsurgical gastroparesis.
Science
The yeast Pichia pastoris has been previously used for extracellular expression of a Rhizopus oryzae lipase (Rol).
Science
Therefore, velocity-based feedback control, which has been previously used by other researchers, might not be a good solution.
Science
Brucella lumazine synthase (BLS) has been previously used with success as a delivery system for systemic immunization against murine cysticercosis.
Science
This approach has been previously used [17, 19].
Science
According to our knowledge, this approximation has been previously used only in [22].
Intravenous (IV) ketamine has been previously used to treat various refractory pain conditions.
HPLC technique has been previously used for the quantification of pentacyclic triterpenes in natural extracts [13].
Science
Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) has been previously used on structural magnetic resonance images (MRI) data to characterize these abnormalities.
Academia
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Avoid redundancy by ensuring that the "previously" adds meaningful information; if the "has been used" already implies past use, "previously" may be unnecessary.
Common error
Avoid using "has been previously used" in contexts where a simpler phrase like "was used" would suffice. Overusing complex phrasing can make your writing sound stilted and less accessible.
Source & Trust
84%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "has been previously used" functions as a passive voice construction within a sentence. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used to indicate prior use. It introduces information about the history or precedent of a particular method, tool, or concept.
Frequent in
Science
86%
News & Media
7%
Academia
5%
Less common in
Formal & Business
1%
Encyclopedias
0%
Wiki
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, "has been previously used" is a grammatically correct phrase that serves to indicate that something has been employed or applied before. According to Ludwig AI, the construction is sound and readily understood in written English. Its high frequency in scientific literature and formal reports suggests that it is best suited for contexts where objectivity and a clear reference to established practices are desired. When writing, consider whether a simpler construction such as "was used before" might suffice, but keep in mind that "has been previously used" is particularly useful for emphasizing the prior application in other scenarios or experiments. Therefore, use "has been previously used" when you mean "was used in the past, and might be useful as a reference for this current usage".
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
was used before
This alternative uses simpler language to convey the same meaning of prior use.
has been employed in the past
This alternative introduces a more formal term ('employed') to indicate prior usage.
had been utilized earlier
This option uses 'utilized' and 'earlier' to emphasize the past employment of something.
has seen prior application
This alternative replaces 'used' with 'application' for a more technical or formal tone.
has been formerly implemented
This option uses 'formerly' and 'implemented' to stress the official or structured nature of the past use.
was earlier adopted
This alternative implies a conscious decision to use something in the past.
has a history of usage
This option emphasizes the established history of using something.
has precedent in its use
This alternative indicates that there is an established pattern of using something.
builds upon established practice
This phrase suggests that current use relies on previously established methods or applications.
relies on prior applications
This alternative emphasizes that the current use is dependent on what has been done before.
FAQs
How can I use "has been previously used" in a sentence?
You can use "has been previously used" to indicate that something was used before, such as "This method "has been previously used" in other studies."
What are some alternatives to saying "has been previously used"?
Alternatives include "was used before", "has been employed in the past", or "had been utilized earlier", depending on the context and desired formality.
Is it redundant to say "has been previously used"?
In some contexts, "previously" might be redundant if the past tense already implies prior use. However, "has been previously used" can emphasize that the use is not new or novel and "was used" in other use cases, experiments or scenarios.
What is the difference between "has been used" and "has been previously used"?
"Has been used" simply indicates that something was used at some point. "Has been previously used" emphasizes that something "was earlier adopted" or employed, often suggesting that its current application is not original.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
84%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested