something has been done

USAGE SUMMARY

'something has been done' is a perfectly acceptable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe an action that has been completed in the past. For example: "We are delighted to report that something has been done to address the issue of homelessness in our city."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

Something has been done.

The New York Times

Something has been done to make intelligence agencies pool information.

The Economist

Something has been done: we stopped the bombing once; it could be stopped again.

The New Yorker

Something needed to be done, they say, and something has been done, even if sometimes it is over the top.

The Economist

Seeing "Raiders" is like being put through a Cuisinart — something has been done to us, but not to our benefit.

The New Yorker

Once people see graphics, the word 'custom' comes to mind because you know something has been done".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

"After all these years something had been done.

The Guardian

I wish something had been done to help her.

The Guardian

They wouldn't uncover it until something had been done about it.

The Guardian

And in fact he felt that something had been done to his throat.

BBC

But I was wondering if something had been done in the right way at that time would she have survived.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "something has been done" when you want to communicate that an action has been completed, but without specifying what that action was. This is useful when the specific details are unimportant or confidential.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on passive constructions like "something has been done", as it can make your writing sound vague or evasive. Whenever possible, specify who performed the action to create a more direct and impactful statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "something has been done" functions as a statement indicating that an action has been completed, typically without specifying the exact nature of the action. As Ludwig AI's analysis and examples show, the phrase is versatile and frequently used in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

26%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "something has been done" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate that an action has been completed. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability and frequency across various contexts. While often used to convey reassurance, it's essential to consider the level of transparency needed in your writing. When detail is needed, direct and more specific alternatives such as "action was taken" or "measures were implemented" are preferable. As noted by Ludwig, the phrase appears most often in news, scientific, and formal business sources, making it appropriate for neutral communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

action was taken

This alternative uses a more direct and active voice, emphasizing the performance of an action.

measures were implemented

This phrase suggests a more formal and structured approach to addressing a problem.

steps were taken

Similar to "measures were implemented", but slightly less formal.

a solution was found

This emphasizes the successful resolution of a problem.

the matter was addressed

This indicates that attention was given to a particular issue.

the situation was resolved

Focuses specifically on the successful resolution of a problematic situation.

progress has been made

This highlights advancement towards a goal, rather than a complete resolution.

it was handled

A more informal way of saying that a situation was dealt with.

an effort was made

This focuses on the attempt to do something, regardless of the outcome.

remedial action occurred

Emphasizes that the action was designed to correct or improve a situation.

FAQs

How can I use "something has been done" in a sentence?

You can use "something has been done" when you want to indicate that an action has been completed, often without specifying the exact details. For example, "We received confirmation that "action was taken" to address the complaint."

What's the difference between "something has been done" and "something was done"?

"Something has been done" implies a completed action with relevance to the present, while "something was done" simply indicates a past action without necessarily highlighting its current impact. The use of present perfect signals that results of this past action are still important to the current context.

Which is more formal, "something has been done" or "action has been taken"?

"Action has been taken" is generally more direct and slightly more formal than "something has been done". The latter is more vague, whereas "action has been taken" specifies more clearly that a tangible measure has been implemented.

Are there situations where it's better not to use "something has been done"?

Yes, if you need to be transparent and accountable, avoid using "something has been done" because its vagueness can make you seem evasive. Instead, specify exactly what was done or what "measures were implemented".