has once been

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has once been" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is formed by the present perfect tense of the verb "to be" (has been) and the adverb "once," meaning "at some point in the past." You can use this phrase to talk about a past experience or situation that occurred only once and is no longer happening. For example: - She has once been a successful journalist, but now she works as a freelance writer. - The abandoned house has once been a beautiful mansion, but now it's in ruins. - He has once been in love, but after his heart was broken, he closed himself off. - The old bakery has once been famous for its delicious pastries, but now it's struggling to stay in business.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

She has once been nominated for an Oscar - in 1996 she played Barbara Streisand's mother in The Mirror Has Two Faces - but this was the year of The English Patient and she lost to Juliet Binoche.

The Guardian - Film

Therefore, it cannot be repeated when it has once been validly performed as a sacrament.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Sharapova has once been on the wrong end of a shutout loss, dropping all 12 games to Lindsay Davenport in an inexplicably lopsided 2005 semifinal at Indian Wells.

The New York Times

The thinking seems to be that anything that has once been a vegetable remains a vegetable, no matter what form it ultimately takes.

The New York Times

Like almost everyone who has once been the CEO of a major media company, he's been unable to find a job as CEO of another major media company.

The Guardian - Opinion

When a case has once been decided by this court no further proceedings can be had in the trial court except upon our direction, whereas here the parties have stipulated that without such direction a new trial may be had.

Cornell University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

Antarctica had once been warm.

The New York Times

(Green had once been chairman).

The New Yorker

These conditions had once been uniformly fatal.

The New Yorker

Macdonald had once been such a cat.

The New Yorker

The building had once been a hotel.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a transformation, pair "has once been" with contrasting information about the current state to highlight the extent of the change.

Common error

Avoid using "has once been" when describing a state that has gradually evolved over time. Use it to define a specific transition point, not to describe continuous evolution. For example, if a company slowly declined, it's better to say it "used to be" successful, rather than using "has once been".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has once been" functions as a stative verb phrase in the present perfect tense. According to Ludwig AI, it indicates a condition or state that existed at some point in the past but no longer exists. The auxiliary verb has indicates the present perfect aspect, marking the past action's relevance to the present.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Academia

27%

Science

21%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has once been" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression that describes a past state or condition that is no longer true in the present. It is versatile, appearing in diverse contexts from News & Media to Academia, as noted by Ludwig AI. To enhance clarity, it is beneficial to specify what that subject is now. For example, "That building has once been a hotel, now it is a condo" This phrase highlights changes and provides historical context, maintaining a neutral register suitable for various communications. Remember to use it when referring to a change of state at a single point, rather than gradual decline.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

used to be

Emphasizes a past state that is no longer true.

has in the past been

Rephrases with a slight shift in emphasis.

was formerly

Highlights a previous official or formal state.

was at some point

Indicates an unspecified time in the past.

had previously been

Stresses an earlier condition before a specific point in time.

was earlier

Highlights that something was at a certain point in the past.

was at one time

Indicates a past condition, often implying a contrast with the present.

previously functioned as

Highlights a prior role or function.

once existed as

Focuses on the past existence of something in a particular form.

formerly held the position of

Specifies a past job or title.

FAQs

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

Use "has once been" to describe something that existed or was true at one point in the past, but is no longer the case. For example, "That building "had once been" a hotel."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "has once been"?

Alternatives include "used to be", "was formerly", or "at one time", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "had once been" instead of "has once been"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "has once been" refers to something that was true at some point in the past relative to the present, while "had once been" refers to something that was true at some point in the past relative to another point in the past.

What is the difference between "has once been" and "has always been"?

"Has once been" indicates a change over time, something that was true in the past but isn't now. "Has always been" indicates continuity, something that has been true from the past until now.