have once been

USAGE SUMMARY

"have once been" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is usually used in the past tense to describe something that used to be true or exist, but is no longer true or in existence. Example sentence: I have once been a professional dancer, but now I work as a lawyer.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Such a declaration would have once been heresy here.

The New York Times

A tough article like that would have once been unimaginable.

The New York Times

It is difficult when you have once been an owner".

The New York Times

Earlier testimony suggested that her son may have once been on familiar terms with Mr. Santiago.

The New York Times

A shriveled-up chunk of what may have once been a watermelon.

The New York Times

It's odd to think how I could have once been so physically excited by you.

The New Yorker

New Yorkers now beheld what would have once been incomprehensible: the empty harbor.

The New York Times

Traces of a timber structure thought to have once been a church have also been found.

The Guardian

It is a claim that would have once been dismissed as a pipe dream.

The Guardian - Opinion

Mattias claimed to have once been a free-market economist in Buenos Aires.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Improvements in acute burn care have enabled patients to survive massive burns that would have once been fatal.

The Lancet

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have once been" to clearly indicate a change in state or condition over time, providing context about a past situation that is no longer current.

Common error

Avoid using "have once been" when a simple past tense verb would suffice. For example, instead of saying 'The building might "have once been" a theatre,' it's often clearer to say 'The building was once a theatre.'

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have once been" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect tense, indicating a state or condition that existed at some point in the past but is no longer true. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s grammatically correct. Examples from Ludwig show its usage in describing past states of objects, places, or people.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have once been" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe past states or conditions that are no longer true. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's correct in written English. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts, though it appears in various other forms of writing as well. When using this phrase, it's essential to ensure it accurately reflects a transformation or change over time and isn't used redundantly when a simple past tense would suffice. Alternatives include "used to be" or "was formerly", but the best choice will depend on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

used to be

This alternative is a more direct and simpler way to express a past state.

was formerly

This alternative is slightly more formal and emphasizes a previous official status.

had previously been

This alternative emphasizes the sequence of events, highlighting that something was in a certain state before another event occurred.

once existed as

This alternative emphasizes the past existence of something in a particular form.

at one time was

This alternative places emphasis on a specific period in the past.

in the past was

This alternative simply states that something was true in the past.

is no longer

This alternative focuses on the current absence of something that existed before.

has since changed from

This alternative focuses on the transformation from a previous state.

did at one point consist of

This alternative specifies a component of something at a certain time.

earlier comprised

This alternative stresses the composition of something in a former state.

FAQs

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

Use "have once been" to describe something that existed or was true in the past, but is no longer so. For instance, "That restaurant may "have once been" a bookstore".

What's the difference between "have once been" and "used to be"?

"Have once been" emphasizes a specific point in the past, while "used to be" describes a habitual or continuous state in the past. Both indicate a change from a past condition.

Which is correct, "have once been" or "had once been"?

"Have once been" is generally used in present perfect constructions while "had once been" is used in past perfect constructions. The choice depends on the timeline you're establishing in your sentence.

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

You can use alternatives like "used to be", "was formerly", or "had previously been" depending on the nuance you want to convey.