have been transferred

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been transferred" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that a change of location or ownership has taken place. For example, "The company's assets have been transferred to the new owner."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Photographs have been transferred to the Law Library's Art Collection.

Harvard University

He appears to have been transferred there this week.

The Guardian

All of Dunfermline's staff have been transferred to Nationwide.

The Guardian - Business

Only 78 have been transferred to the sanctuary since 2015.

Nature

Such concepts have been transferred to organ transplants.

The New York Times

More than 700 prisoners have been transferred to other countries.

The Guardian

The shares have been transferred, making her the company's owner.

The Times

No new prisoners have been transferred to Guantánamo since 2007.

The New York Times

All eight have been transferred to desk jobs.

The New York Times

Credits that have been transferred to the Law School are excluded from the degree GPA.

Cornell University

The tapes are not to be used and have been transferred to digital media.

Columbia University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have been transferred", ensure the context clearly indicates what was transferred, from where, and to where. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid overusing the passive voice with "have been transferred". While grammatically correct, excessive passive voice can make writing sound weak. Consider rephrasing to use the active voice where appropriate to improve clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been transferred" functions as a passive perfect construction, indicating that an action of transferring has been completed at some point in the past and has relevance to the present. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and wide applicability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Academia

30%

Science

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have been transferred" is a versatile and grammatically sound construction used to indicate a completed action of transferring something or someone. As Ludwig and its examples confirm, it's widely applicable in various contexts, ranging from news and media to academic and scientific writing. While generally neutral to formal, it's crucial to ensure clarity by specifying what, from where, and to where the transfer occurred. Remember to avoid overuse of the passive voice and consider alternatives like "have been relocated" or "have been reassigned" for nuanced meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been relocated

Focuses specifically on a change in physical location.

have been reassigned

Emphasizes a change in assigned duties or roles.

have been moved

A more general term for a change in physical position.

have been handed over

Indicates a transfer of responsibility or control.

have been conveyed

Suggests a formal or legal transfer.

have been transmitted

Implies a transfer of information or data.

have been displaced

Highlights a forced or involuntary relocation.

have been shifted

A more casual term for a slight change in position.

have been remitted

Refers to the sending of money.

have been devolved

Indicates a transfer of power or authority to a lower level.

FAQs

How to use "have been transferred" in a sentence?

Use "have been transferred" to indicate that something or someone has moved from one place or position to another. For instance, "The funds "have been transferred" to the new account".

What can I say instead of "have been transferred"?

You can use alternatives like "have been relocated", "have been reassigned", or "have been moved" depending on the context.

Is "have been transferred" formal or informal?

"Have been transferred" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. The level of formality depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and sentence structure.

Which is correct, "have been transferred" or "was transferred"?

Both "have been transferred" and "was transferred" can be correct, depending on the context. "Have been transferred" implies a completed action with relevance to the present, while "was transferred" simply describes a past event.