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LETTER HAS BEEN SENT vs LETTER WAS SENT

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Letter has been sent' is used when emphasizing the recent completion of the action. 'Letter was sent' is more neutral and simply states that the action took place in the past.
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Explained by Jennifer
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: September 11, 2024 • 18527 views

LETTER HAS BEEN SENT

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English, especially when emphasizing the recent completion of the action.

This phrase is used to indicate that a letter was recently sent, emphasizing the completion of the action.

Examples:

  • The letter has been sent, so you should receive it soon.
  • I can confirm that the letter has been sent to the correct address.
  • The appropriate letter has been sent by the group to President Manuel Barroso.
  • A similar letter has been sent to Commission Vice-President Franco Frattini.
  • More detailed investigations are necessary and a third letter has been sent to the Maltese authorities on 18 November 2011 requesting some further clarifications and information.
  • So, that letter has been sent. I thank you for suggesting we should do so.
  • I must tell you that that letter has been sent, and that I have previously sent my condolences to the family and to the British people.
  • a letter has been sent to the complainant informing him that there are insufficient grounds for pursuing the complaint,
  • A letter has been sent from the Committee on Legal Affairs to the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy saying that if it is a new proposal then there is a need for a new opinion from the group of experts.
  • This information was indeed quite partisan and the Secretary-General tells me that the letter has already been sent to those concerned.
  • We now have an agreement that I think Parliament can accept on the basis of the letter which has been sent today.
  • A letter has already been sent to the specialised EP committees inviting them to appoint their budget rapporteurs and to hold regular meetings, the first being proposed for early February, before the presentation of the Annual Policy Strategy by the Commission.
  • Mr President, I should like, as one Member has already done, to draw your attention to a letter that has been sent to the various Info-Points Europe, informing them that they are to lose their funding from the Commission.
  • In the light of the above, a letter requesting information has been sent to the Italian authorities.
  • A letter explaining this has been sent to interior ministers in order to clarify the legal situation.
  • Please find 2 documents attached: my letter withdrawing the claim addressed to the President of the EU General Court, and the confirmation from the post that the letter has been indeed sent.
  • In this regard, working with other Members, a letter stating our case has been sent to Commissioner Potočnik.
  • Has the letter already been sent to the Belgian authorities?
  • In his answer to my Written Question P-3281/02 the Commissioner responsible states that, in accordance with Article 226 of the EC Treaty, a letter of formal notice has been sent to the Greek authorities.
  • I take it from the Commissioner's response that basically, if letters of formal notice have been sent out and no subsequent legal action has been taken, citizens in Ireland who want copies of letters sent to the Irish Government can in fact get them.
  • The Belgian First Minister has been sent two letters, but has not replied.
  • Would the Commission say what progress has been achieved since the letter was sent to ICES?

Alternatives:

  • The letter has already been sent.
  • The letter has been dispatched.
  • The letter has been forwarded.
  • The letter has been mailed.
  • The letter has been posted.

LETTER WAS SENT

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English, especially when stating that the action took place in the past without emphasizing recency.

This phrase is used to simply state that a letter was sent in the past, without emphasizing the recent completion of the action.

Examples:

  • The letter was sent last week.
  • I found out that the letter was sent by mistake.
  • That letter was sent to President Zapatero, as well as Commissioner Almunia, but none of you have done anything to defend Spanish on this occasion.
  • Would the Commission say what progress has been achieved since the letter was sent to ICES?
  • This letter was sent by the Commission on 10 April 2006, in accordance with Article 226 of the Treaty, and Spain replied on 13 July 2006.
  • An amendment to this letter was sent by letter of 1 February 2006, registered by the Commission on the same day.
  • This first letter was sent immediately after the applications were received by email in order to allow the Italian authorities to respect the imminent deadlines for at least two of the applications (those relating to Puglia and Abruzzo).
  • The latter letter was sent to Greece for comments on 13 November 2007, what offered the opportunity to Greece to comment a second time.
  • A letter was sent claiming dangerous rates of staph infections connected to surgeries being performed there.
  • A letter was sent to the state medical board complaining about the hospital's infection rates.
  • The same letter was sent to the French Presidency.
  • A letter was sent on 9 July.
  • A letter was sent from this office, a week ago last Monday, to the Oxford Mail.
  • No, but javi's trying to track down the lady who the letter was sent to.
  • This letter was sent to chief agent Shultz by U.S. mail, arriving an hour ago.
  • The letter was sent to Mitch's house because that was their last known address for Cindy.
  • A claim letter was sent to the hospital and her husband's surgeon alleging malpractice, but actual legal papers were never filed.
  • To this effect a letter was sent out on 25 January 2006 to all parties.
  • Is it true that such a letter was sent to Greece and what exactly are the accusations it contains regarding the Greek Government? 2.
  • The letter was sent to Italy for comments, together with a number of other demands, on 15 September 2003.
  • A final letter was sent by the Commission on 27 May 2003.
  • The letter was sent to all the alumni

Alternatives:

  • The letter had been sent.
  • The letter got sent.
  • The letter was dispatched.
  • The letter was forwarded.
  • The letter was mailed.

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