have been ended

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been ended" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly as it suggests a passive construction that does not align with standard usage. Example: "The negotiations have been ended due to a lack of agreement."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

Though United were to equalise, this semi-final could have been ended before they did so.

The Guardian - Sport

Giuliani: He thought it should have been ended five months ago, right?

The Washington Post

Violent conflicts that had blighted the region for many years have been ended.

The Guardian - Opinion

For that reason, he said, he agreed that the game should have been ended.

The New York Times - Sports

Careers have been ended by this affair and the reputation of the institution [CRU] will go down for a while.

The Guardian

Joint military exercises, as well as training, have been suspended, and government-backed student visits have been ended.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

The world could have been ending.

Huffington Post

Since then, competitive races in each party have been ending sooner and sooner.

Los Angeles Times

Because of you, a great evil has been ended".

The New Yorker

Governor Smith's total after the roll-call had been ended was 724 2-3.

The New York Times

A potential crisis had been ended by a few well-chosen words.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity and grammatical correctness, prefer using stronger verbs like "concluded", "terminated", or "finished" instead of "have been ended". These alternatives often provide a more direct and professional tone.

Common error

While "have been ended" isn't grammatically ideal, its frequent misuse highlights a tendency towards passive voice. Strive for active voice to make your writing more concise and impactful. Instead of "The meeting has been ended by the manager", try "The manager ended the meeting".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been ended" functions as a passive construction indicating the completion or termination of an action or event. However, Ludwig AI notes it's not considered grammatically correct in standard written English. Usage examples from Ludwig demonstrate its deployment across various contexts, though alternative phrasings are preferable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Reference

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "have been ended" appears frequently in various sources, including news and media, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect in standard written English. Its function is to indicate the termination of an action or event, but stronger verb choices such as "concluded", "terminated", or "finished" are generally recommended for clearer and more grammatically sound writing. Understanding the potential for passive voice overuse is key to enhancing sentence construction and ensuring your message is conveyed effectively. When communicating that something is finished it's best to select an alternative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have concluded

Replaces "ended" with a more formal synonym, "concluded".

have come to an end

Uses a more idiomatic expression to convey the idea of termination.

have finished

Offers a simpler, more direct way of saying something is completed.

were terminated

Uses "terminated" to indicate a more formal or abrupt ending.

were discontinued

Implies that something was stopped or ceased, often in a systematic way.

have ceased

Emphasizes the cessation or stopping of an action or process.

have wrapped up

Suggests a more informal, casual way of ending something.

have resolved

Implies that a problem or issue has been brought to a conclusion.

have completed

Highlights the accomplishment or fulfillment of something.

are now over

A simple, direct way of saying something has reached its end.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "have been ended"?

You can use alternatives like "have concluded", "have finished", or "have come to an end" depending on the context.

Is "have been ended" grammatically correct?

According to Ludwig AI, the phrase "have been ended" is not considered grammatically correct in standard written English. It is often used incorrectly as it suggests a passive construction that doesn't align with standard usage.

How can I improve my sentence structure when tempted to use "have been ended"?

Focus on using active voice and stronger verbs. For instance, instead of "The project has been ended by the team", use "The team ended the project". This makes the sentence more direct and easier to understand.

What's a more formal way to say "have been ended"?

For more formal contexts, consider using phrases like "have terminated", "have concluded", or "have discontinued". These options convey a sense of finality and professionalism.