has been spared

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'has been spared' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize that someone or something has been spared from a particular threat or unwanted experience. For example, "Fortunately, due to the quick action taken by firefighters, the town's historic church has been spared from the blaze."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Nothing has been spared.

The New York Times

He has been spared.

The New York Times - Sports

No one here has been spared.

The New York Times

No one has been spared.

The New York Times

"No area has been spared".

The New York Times

He has been spared a jail term.

The Washington Post

No expense has been spared for comfort.

The New York Times - Travel

Rafah, in many ways, has been spared.

The New York Times

He has been spared that fate.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Magically, we've been spared.

The New Yorker

At least his eyes had been spared.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been spared" to emphasize a positive outcome where someone or something avoided an expected negative experience. This adds a sense of relief or gratitude to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "has been spared" when the subject is actively doing the sparing. The phrase is passive; instead, use 'spared' actively: 'The judge spared the defendant jail time', not 'The defendant has been spared by the judge'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been spared" primarily functions as part of a passive verb construction. It indicates that the subject of the sentence has avoided or been exempted from something negative or undesirable. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Formal & Business

12%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Academia

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has been spared" is a versatile and grammatically sound construction used to convey the avoidance of a negative outcome. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and suitable for written English. It is most commonly found in "News & Media", but also appears in more formal or scientific contexts. Related phrases include "was not subjected to" and "avoided". Remember to use it in passive constructions and to emphasize positive results. With an expert rating of 4.5, "has been spared" is a reliable choice for expressing relief or good fortune in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was not subjected to

Emphasizes the lack of exposure to a negative experience.

was exempted from

Focuses on being officially excused or free from an obligation.

avoided

Highlights the act of actively evading something undesirable.

escaped

Suggests narrowly averting a negative outcome.

was fortunate to miss

Emphasizes luck in avoiding an unpleasant experience.

was immune to

Implies a natural or conferred resistance to something.

was untouched by

Highlights a lack of impact or influence from something.

was delivered from

Implies a rescue or liberation from a harmful situation.

was relieved of

Focuses on the removal of a burden or obligation.

was kept safe from

Emphasizes protection from a potential danger or harm.

FAQs

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

Use "has been spared" to indicate that someone or something has avoided a negative experience or consequence. For example, "The city "has been spared" from the worst of the storm".

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

For a more formal tone, you could use phrases like "was exempted from", "was relieved of", or "was not subjected to". These alternatives convey a similar meaning while sounding more professional.

Is it correct to say 'was spared' instead of "has been spared"?

Yes, 'was spared' is grammatically correct. "Has been spared" is present perfect tense, indicating a past event with relevance to the present, while 'was spared' is simple past, referring to a completed action in the past.

What is the difference between "has been spared" and "has been saved"?

"Has been spared" implies avoidance of something negative, whereas "has been saved" implies rescue from an existing danger. For example, a building has been saved from a fire, while a building "has been spared" the damage from an earthquake.