having been born

USAGE SUMMARY

"having been born" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to refer to a past situation that is related to the present, and can be used in either the present perfect or the past perfect tense. For example: "She is now a successful businesswoman, having been born into a wealthy family."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I love having been born in Cuba.

The New York Times

CN I regret not having been born very rich.

The New York Times

We never thought of them as having been born "elsewhere".

The New Yorker

However, having been born and raised in the US, I did struggle at first to communicate.

Cornell University

There's nothing intellectually special about having been born a certain race or a certain gender.

University of California, Berkeley

Oh, and he's a dad of three, the youngest having been born last November.

The New York Times

"Roger is a son of the South, having been born in Texas and educated at Sewanee.

The New York Times

Does having been born in Transylvania give you something to talk about at parties?

The New York Times

(The irony of Trump having been born into wealth is not likely to slow down Trump).

The New Yorker

Having been born with a congenital heart defect, Levane never thought he would live past 50.

The New York Times

Like his bandmates, Ramone was working under a pseudonym, having been born Erdélyi Tamás in Budapest.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "having been born", ensure the sentence clearly establishes the connection between the birth and a subsequent state or condition. For example, "Having been born in Italy, he speaks fluent Italian."

Common error

Avoid using "having been born" in a way that creates a dangling modifier. Ensure the subject of the main clause is clearly the one who was born. For example, avoid: "Having been born in a small town, the city was a shock to him."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "having been born" functions as a participial phrase, specifically a perfect gerund phrase. As Ludwig AI explains, it modifies a noun or pronoun, providing additional information about the subject by indicating a completed action in the past that has a bearing on the present situation or state. The examples from Ludwig demonstrate its role in describing someone's origins, circumstances, or qualities related to their birth.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "having been born" is a versatile participial phrase used to link someone's birth to their current state or characteristics. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in written English. Examples from Ludwig demonstrate that it is frequently used in news and media, academic writing, and even in more informal contexts. When using this phrase, it's important to avoid dangling modifiers and ensure the sentence clearly connects the birth to the subject. While many alternatives exist, such as "at birth" or "being born", "having been born" often provides a more nuanced and detailed explanation of the connection between origin and present circumstance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

being born

A more direct and less formal way of referring to the act of birth.

at birth

This phrase is more concise and focuses on the moment of birth rather than the ongoing state.

from birth

Highlights conditions or traits that were present since the moment of birth.

by birth

This phrase emphasizes inherent qualities or rights derived from birth.

upon being born

Emphasizes the immediate consequence or state following the act of birth.

since birth

Indicates a continuous state or condition starting from the moment of birth.

after one's birth

This focuses on events that occur after the event of being born.

initially

Implies the state or circumstance right from the start of existence.

given birth

This specifies the act of giving birth, often focusing on the mother's role.

of natality

A formal and somewhat archaic way of referring to matters related to birth.

FAQs

How can I use "having been born" in a sentence?

Use "having been born" to connect someone's place or time of birth to a current state or characteristic. For example, "Having been born in London, she has a British accent."

What are some alternatives to "having been born"?

Alternatives include "being born", "at birth", or rephrasing the sentence to emphasize the place or time of birth directly. For instance, instead of "Having been born in 1990, he grew up in the digital age", you could say "Born in 1990, he grew up in the digital age".

Is it correct to say "having being born"?

No, "having being born" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "having been born". The auxiliary verb "to be" takes the past participle form, which is "been".

What's the difference between "having been born" and "being born"?

"Having been born" emphasizes a completed action in the past that has relevance to the present, while ""being born"" is a more general reference to the event of birth itself.