had been divorced vs was divorced

Both "had been divorced" and "was divorced" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "Had been divorced" is used when referring to a past event that happened before another past event, while "was divorced" is used to simply state that someone got divorced in the past.

Last updated: March 24, 2024 • 4388 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"had been divorced"

This phrase is used to describe a past event that occurred before another past event. It indicates that the divorce happened at some point in the past.

Examples:

By the time she met him, she had been divorced for five years.
He had been divorced twice before he turned 40.

Show examples from the web [+]

I had been divorced for well over a year.
Look, I had just been divorced... and I wasn't dating anybody, so...
Carmen, you've been divorced for two years now.
I've been divorced seven times.
You can't have a Queen of England who's been divorced.
I've been divorced for a while now.
We've been divorced for a year. I'm not his custodian.
Cause Meredith has been divorced like, twice.
They've been divorced a year.
She's been divorced for, like, 20 minutes.
And I've been divorced twice.
Come on, the guy's been divorced three times.
Walter, you've been divorced seven months.
I was afraid to marry you because you'd been divorced.
I've been divorced from that nightmare for years.
We've been divorced almost four years.
No one in my family's ever been divorced before.
Guess the fact that I've been divorced.
I've been divorced for all of six months.
Chick, Jules and I have been divorced for years.

Alternatives:

had divorced
had gotten divorced
had ended their marriage
had split up

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"was divorced"

This phrase is used to simply state that someone got divorced in the past. It does not imply any specific time frame or sequence of events.

Examples:

She was divorced last year.
He was divorced twice in his lifetime.

Show examples from the web [+]

Turns out Neeley was divorced with a 12-year-old daughter.
The man who lived here was divorced.
When I was divorced this whole patch just fell right into place.
I lived there until I... I was divorced.
Did you ever find out if Carrie was divorced?
And my sister was divorced and she has 3 children
His Army file claimed that he was divorced with one dependent.
No, he was divorced, and i think for a long time.
You know, he mentioned he was divorced last night.
Well, as far as I know, he was divorced.
he was divorced and of a Yugoslav origin, with a Merv Hughes moustache.
You said that dennis rader, the btk killer, Was divorced and impotent.
Judith was divorced from what you have.
Her questionnaire said she was divorced.
Says here she was divorced in 2005.
He was divorced a couple of times.
Seven months later, I was divorced.
You'd have thought one Of them was divorced.
I knew he was divorced, but...
He was divorced from his wife on the grounds of extreme cruelty.

Alternatives:

got divorced
ended their marriage
split up

How TextRanch works

Fast and reliable proofreading, editing, and language advice tailored to your needs.

1. Choose Your Service

Quick Text Editing

Emails and short texts
Proofreading & editing
Ready in 5-10 minutes

SUBMIT YOUR TEXT NOW

Document Editing

Documents of any type (*.docx)
Advanced & Premium editing
Ready in as little as 4 hours

UPLOAD YOUR DOCUMENT

Ask an Editor

Personalized answers to your language questions
Expert guidance on grammar, style, and usage
Ready in 24 hours

ASK YOUR QUESTION

Upload your document or paste your text directly into our platform. Your text is reviewed and refined by our expert editors (real people, not machines) who understand the nuances of English. Expect corrections, improvements, and insightful suggestions that enhance the clarity, tone, and professionalism of your writing.

3. Receive Your Polished Text

In just a few minutes (or hours for longer documents), you'll receive your corrected text. Review the changes, make any final adjustments, and confidently share your polished English with the world.
You can count on a personalized, friendly service every time you use TextRanch. We're committed to helping you make a great impression with every word you write.

We proofread and edit these types of texts and documents:

Short texts Business Emails Personal Emails Social media posts Resume and Curriculum Vitae Business documents Sales proposal Research and academic papers Thesis Dissertation Essays Articles Blog posts and much more....

Why choose TextRanch?

Complete Privacy

Your texts are safe and secure with us. We never share your information with third parties.

Affordable Pricing

No subscription fees and rates up to 50% cheaper than other online editing services.

100% Satisfaction

We guarantee that you'll be satisfied with the quality of our service or your money back.

Top Customer Service

Our team is here to help you with any questions you may have. Contact us anytime.

Our Customers Love Us!

We have an average rating of 4.79 stars based on 283125 votes, and

4.9 Excellent - Reviews 2.137

"7 years without any disappointment. Always 100% satisfied. You guys are the best in the world at what you do. Thank you so much :)"

Zubair
from Bangladesh

"I wasn't aware of this service, it's fascinating and more reliable than standard IA tools available on the internet"

Arturo
from Mexico

"In a world of text messages and online communication, this is great to have as a live tool. Thank you."

Selena
from USA

"Wow, it's just so excellent. I never would have believed I could have a sure and excellent English companion. Thanks, TextRanch."

Ifiok
from Nigeria

"This is my first time using TextRanch, and I like how the editors take time to correct my text. To everyone who has never used TextRanch before, I highly recommend trying it."

Wilson
from France

"It is an amazing source of feedback because, as a non-native speaker, I really need to have a reliable helper correct my text."

Susan
from Germany

had been divorced vs was divorced