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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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I was applied

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was applied" is not correct and usable in written English.
You could use it in speech if you are referring to something that was applied to you, such as sunscreen, but it is not generally used in written English. Instead, you could use the phrase "I applied" in a sentence such as: "I applied to the job yesterday."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

In phase II, the best treatment from phase I was applied for 1, 2, 4, 6, or 8 h in order to optimize the application time.

In this work, the rigorous model for species concentration distribution prediction proposed in part I was applied in simulating the biological degradation process of toluene in a bubble column (BC) reactor.

The model explained in Part I was applied to calculate the influence of pH gradients on the selectivity of the diazo coupling between 1-naphthol and diazotised sulphanilic acid.

Real-time PCR based on SYBR Green I was applied for accurate quantification of the target sequence in the current study.

Science

Plosone

The same statistical design as for cohort I was applied for cohort II.

The coefficient of inconsistency (I) was applied to assess heterogeneity between studies [ 53].

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Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

The weight G corr, i is applied to the detail coefficients of all 3 directions.

The LOCF mean change analysis of HAMD17, CGI-S and PGI-I was applied to all three databases.

A CGI-I was applied in the studies included in the TRI database, to assess a patient's subjective perception about the change of tinnitus over time [ 31].

44 The Falls Efficacy Scale International (FES-I) was applied as a measure of fear of falling, 45 while symptoms of depression were recorded using the German version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS).

However, if the same diagnostic definition at the time of TURDEP-I was applied in the current survey and the population's age distribution was standardized to TURDEP-I population, the prevalence of diabetes should be 11.4 % (95 % CI: 11.0 11.8 % [men: 9.7; 95 % CI: 9.2 10.3 %, women: 12.7; 95 % CI: 12.1 13.3 %]).

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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always check the context: In limited scenarios (e.g., describing a medical procedure), "I was applied" might be technically correct, but usually requires rephrasing.

Common error

Avoid using "I was applied" when you mean to express that you performed an action. This phrasing often leads to awkward and unclear sentences. Choose the active voice whenever possible.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

84%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was applied" functions primarily as a passive voice construction. Ludwig AI shows that it's often used incorrectly or awkwardly, suggesting a misunderstanding of active versus passive voice. It implies the subject received the action rather than performing it.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I was applied" is generally considered grammatically incorrect and should be used with caution. Ludwig AI confirms that its primary function is a passive construction that often leads to unclear or awkward sentences. Prefer active voice alternatives such as "I applied" or rephrase to clarify the intended meaning. While it appears across various contexts, including News & Media and Science, its usage is often the result of grammatical errors rather than intentional stylistic choice. It is therefore advisable to avoid this phrase in formal writing and strive for clearer, more direct language.

FAQs

How can I rephrase the sentence "I was applied" to make it more grammatically correct?

Depending on the context, you can use active voice constructions like "I applied" if you performed the action. Alternatively, if the action was done to you, "It was applied to me" is a better option.

What's the difference between "I applied" and "I was applied"?

"I applied" indicates that you performed the action. On the other hand, "I was applied" is often grammatically incorrect unless you're describing something being done to you, but even then, rephrasing for clarity is recommended. For example, use alternatives such as "it was applied to me".

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "I was applied"?

While rarely appropriate, "I was applied" could be used in very specific passive constructions where something was done to you, but often a clearer phrasing exists. For example, instead of "I was applied pressure", one should use "pressure was applied to me".

Are there any situations where "I was applied" is grammatically correct?

In highly technical or specialized contexts, it might be grammatically valid, but it is still uncommon and can usually be improved. The example sources from Ludwig AI show the phrase is often part of a larger, grammatically questionable sentence structure. Therefore, it should be rephrased.

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Source & Trust

84%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: