it has been returned

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it has been returned" is a correct and usable sentence in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that has had a previously unknown status or outcome changed. For example, "After several weeks, the missing package has been returned."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Now, 7 years after Mrs. de Menil's death and 31 years after her husband's, it has been returned to its original condition.

The New York Times

Its potentially rebarbative theme - sin as an ineluctable station on the path to salvation - is revitalised by the sheer pleasure the director takes in filming the pickpocket's art, in choreographing the swift evisceration of a wallet before it has been returned to its none-the-wiser owner.

The Guardian - Film

It has been returned to its plinth on Welsh Back.

BBC

Once, this was clear-felled land, yet today, with the help of the Aboriginal community over the course of three generations, much of it has been returned to its natural state – a fragile tangle of ferns and eucalypts.

BBC

Over the years, the space has been everything from administrative offices to a disco in the 1970s, but now it has been returned to its proper use: the care and feeding of important people.

Forbes

No accommodation can be made for recovering data left behind on the laptop once it has been returned.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

But this century it has been returning to its political roots, to become a model not just for the region, but for the world.

The Guardian - Opinion

Ever since, it has been returning stunning images of the planet's surface along with evidence of water and carbon dioxide ice.

Science Magazine

By Thursday afternoon, it had been returned to Mexican officials, he said.

The New York Times

Therefore, if it had been returned I would have submitted it as an exhibit, without reading it.

Yale University

Duane Schrock, who has moved around the United States several times, finally received the card after it had been returned to the sender and forwarded for nearly three decades.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it has been returned" when you want to emphasize the result of the action rather than the actor. This construction is particularly useful when the actor is unknown or unimportant.

Common error

Avoid using "it has been returned" when the actor is known and relevant, and when active voice would make the sentence clearer and more direct. For example, instead of "The book has been returned by John", prefer "John has returned the book".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it has been returned" functions as the predicate of a sentence, specifically in the passive voice. It indicates that something (represented by "it") has undergone the action of being returned, with emphasis on the result of the action rather than the actor. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

25%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it has been returned" is a grammatically correct and commonly used passive voice construction. As Ludwig AI confirms, its purpose is to convey that something has been restored or given back. The phrase is most often found in news and academic contexts, reflecting a neutral register. When writing, it's best to use this phrase when the actor is unknown or less important than the fact that something has been returned. Remember to consider whether the active voice might be clearer in certain situations. If you need an alternative, options like "it was given back" or "it was restored" can provide subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was given back

Focuses on the action of giving something back, simpler and more direct.

it was restored

Emphasizes the act of bringing something back to its original condition.

it was reinstated

Specifically refers to restoring someone or something to a former position or state.

it was handed over

Highlights the act of transferring possession, often implying a formal process.

it was relinquished

Suggests a voluntary surrender of something.

it was ceded

Indicates a formal yielding of territory or rights.

it was refunded

Specifically relates to the return of money.

it was reimbursed

Similar to refunded, but often implies repayment for expenses.

it was remitted

Suggests a formal cancellation or forgiveness of a debt or penalty.

it was retrieved

Emphasizes the effort involved in getting something back.

FAQs

How to use "it has been returned" in a sentence?

Use "it has been returned" when referring to something that was previously not in its rightful place and is now back. For example, "The stolen painting "it has been returned" to the museum after years of searching".

What can I say instead of "it has been returned"?

You can use alternatives like "it was given back", "it was restored", or "it was reinstated" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "it has been returned" or "it was returned"?

Both "it has been returned" and "it was returned" are grammatically correct. "It has been returned" implies a more recent or relevant action, while "it was returned" refers to a past event without necessarily implying present relevance.

What's the difference between "it has been returned" and "it is returned"?

"It has been returned" is in the present perfect passive voice, indicating an action completed at an unspecified time before now. "It is returned" is in the simple present passive voice, typically used for describing a regular or habitual action, which doesn't fit for most ""it has been returned"" contexts.