has been retreated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been retreated" is not correct in standard English usage.
It is typically used incorrectly as "retreat" is an intransitive verb and does not take a direct object in this form. Example: "The troops have retreated to a safer position."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

In this study, we investigate the effects of chemical additives (iron catalyst, oxalic acid as complexing agent and surfactants as stabilizers) in slurry that has been retreated by ultrafiltration.

Microelectronic Engineering

When a sampled tooth has been retreated or extracted, the date of such treatment was recorded.

Clinical Oral Investigations

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Even Sweden has been retreating from its non-alignment by forming a partnership with NATO and joining the EU.

The Economist

Since Suharto's fall, the military has been retreating under the pressure of a popular demand for civilian rule.

The New York Times

But Clarke has been retreating from his 5.2% target almost since the day he set the goal.

The Guardian - Business

Since then the ice has been retreating, and Glacier Bay, now 65 miles (105 km) long, has taken its present form.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Tajik, on the other hand, has a lifeline through its close connection with Persian, but it too has been retreating before Uzbek, an unrelated language of the Turkic group.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Churches across the Kachin region are organizing prayers and 24-hour fasting periods in support of the Kachin Independence Army, which has been retreating in the face of attacks by the Myanmar military.

The New York Times

The main source of ice islands used to be the Ward Hunt Ice Shelf on Canada's Ellesmere Island near northwestern Greenland, but the ice shelf has been retreating as ice islands and bergs continue to calve from it.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The glacier's calving front — the point at which icebergs break free — has been retreating rapidly as Greenland warms; it's now several miles further inland than it was just a decade ago.

The New Yorker

The researchers documented for the first time just how much the glacier's "grounding line" — the critical underwater area where ice, bedrock and the ocean meet — has been retreating inland over the years.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "has been retreated" in formal writing. Opt for alternatives like "has been withdrawn" or "has receded" to maintain grammatical correctness and clarity.

Common error

Don't treat "retreat" as a transitive verb in the passive voice. "Retreat" typically describes the act of withdrawing and doesn't take a direct object. Use a different verb like "withdraw" if you need a passive construction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been retreated" functions as a past perfect passive construction, although it is grammatically incorrect. The intended function is to describe something that has undergone a process of being moved back or withdrawn. However, as Ludwig AI indicates, the verb "retreat" is usually intransitive and does not take a direct object in this form.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has been retreated" is considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. While some examples exist across diverse domains, particularly in science and news media, the verb "retreat" is typically intransitive and does not lend itself to passive constructions. As Ludwig AI points out, opting for alternatives like "has been withdrawn", "has receded", or "has been pulled back" will ensure grammatical correctness and maintain clarity. The expert rating reflects this assessment, underscoring the importance of precise language use, particularly in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been withdrawn

Replaces "retreated" with "withdrawn", a grammatically correct term to indicate removal or pulling back.

has been pulled back

Uses "pulled back" as a more direct and grammatically sound replacement for "retreated".

has withdrawn

Simplifies the original by removing "been" and using the intransitive verb "withdrawn".

has receded

Offers "receded" as an alternative, suitable for contexts involving glaciers or water levels.

has fallen back

Employs "fallen back" to convey a sense of strategic withdrawal or retreat.

has moved back

Replaces "retreated" with a simpler, more literal description of movement.

has been displaced

Suggests "displaced", which indicates something has been moved from its original position.

has been rolled back

Uses "rolled back" to indicate a reversal or undoing of a previous action or position.

has given way

Suggests "given way", implying a yielding or retreating due to pressure or force.

has been ceded

Offers "ceded" to indicate that something has been formally relinquished or retreated from.

FAQs

Is "has been retreated" grammatically correct?

No, "has been retreated" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. The verb "retreat" is intransitive and doesn't typically take a direct object in that way. You should consider using alternative phrasing.

What are some correct alternatives to "has been retreated"?

Better alternatives include "has been withdrawn", "has receded", or "has been pulled back", depending on the intended meaning.

When can I use "retreat" in a sentence?

You can use "retreat" as an intransitive verb (without a direct object), as in "The army had to retreat". You can also use it as a noun: "Their retreat was orderly".

What's the difference between "has retreated" and "has been retreated"?

"Has retreated" is the correct form, indicating the action of retreating. "Has been retreated" is grammatically incorrect because "retreat" is not typically used as a transitive verb in the passive voice.