has been received

USAGE SUMMARY

"has been received" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used in past tense sentences to indicate that something has been received at some point in the past. For example: - The package has been received and is currently being processed. - The email has been received by the recipient, but they have not yet replied. - The donation has been received and will be used towards the school's fundraiser. In general, "has been received" is used to convey information about the completion of an action or the arrival of something.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It has been received well.

The New York Times

Neither has been received".

The Guardian

No reply has been received from Vodafone.

Independent

No approach has been received by eOne".

The Guardian

But no bid has been received, he says.

The Economist

It has been received clear enough, for now.

The Economist

Even among Republicans, the claim has been received sceptically.

The Economist

The programme has been received with mixed feelings.

The Guardian

Some £17bn has been received by the exchequer.

The Guardian - Business

Her venture has been received with a cautious welcome.

The New York Times

The Obama administration has been received more coolly.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been received" to clearly indicate that something has arrived or been obtained by someone. This construction avoids ambiguity and clearly establishes a past event.

Common error

Ensure the context allows for the present perfect passive tense. "Has been received" indicates a completed action with relevance to the present. Avoid using it when a simple past tense (e.g., "was received") is more appropriate to indicate an action completed entirely in the past with no present relevance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been received" functions as a present perfect passive construction. This indicates that an action of receiving has been completed, and the subject has undergone this action. Ludwig provides examples illustrating its wide use in formal contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Reference

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been received" is a prevalent and grammatically sound phrase used to convey that something has been obtained. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase sees frequent use across diverse contexts, particularly in news, science, and formal business settings. When writing, it's essential to align the tense with the context, opting for "has been received" when the action of receiving is completed and relevant to the present, and considering similar phrases like "was obtained" for stylistic variation or greater formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was obtained

Focuses on the act of getting or acquiring something.

was accepted

Emphasizes the approval or agreement aspect of receiving.

was delivered

Highlights the act of something being transported or handed over.

was attained

Suggests effort or achievement in acquiring something.

was granted

Implies permission or authorization in receiving something.

was secured

Focuses on the act of making something safe or certain.

was collected

Highlights the gathering or accumulation of something.

was furnished

Emphasizes the provision or supply of something.

was furnished with

Emphasizes the action of providing or equipping something

was brought in

Highlights the action of introducing or importing something

FAQs

How do I use "has been received" in a sentence?

Use "has been received" to indicate that something has arrived or been obtained. For example, "The package "has been received" and is being processed".

What's a more formal way to say "has been received"?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives such as "was obtained" or "was furnished". For example, "The document "was obtained" from the archives" conveys a similar meaning in a formal setting.

Which is correct, "has been received" or "was received"?

Both are correct but convey different meanings. "Has been received" implies the action is completed and relevant to the present, while "was received" indicates a completed action in the past without a direct connection to the present. For example, "The payment "has been received", so the order can be shipped" versus "The letter "was received" last week".

What can I say instead of "the message has been received"?

You can use alternatives like "the message is acknowledged", or "the message is confirmed". These alternatives focus on the acknowledgement of the message instead of its physical reception.