I was given advice

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was given advice" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to receiving guidance or recommendations from someone. Example: "After struggling with my decision, I was given advice from my mentor that helped me choose the right path."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"I was given advice I should allow them to go through," he said.

The Guardian

I was given advice about how to modify or limit my own life – rather than an affirmation that this was wrong and should change.

The Guardian

If appointed, I would take advice and if I was given advice there was a clear conflict of interest then I would look at that advice and make my judgment".

Independent

"The correct position is, I was given advice that it was not desirable to hold a meeting of the Police and Crime Panel to discuss the suspension of the acting chief constable, whilst various legal and HR issues were still under investigation, for example the judicial review and the Sir Peter Fahy investigation, which is still on-going".

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

If I was giving advice to myself now, I'd have said 'just keep doing what you're doing'.

Independent

Here's our conversation.Q.Why did you decide to write this book A.I really wrote it as if I was giving advice to the young people in my office, advice about how to navigate the world responsibly and respectfully.

The New York Times

I thought I would be able to do well because I was giving advice to CEOs.

BBC

Asked about how he might approach a future Masters final round when comfortably ahead he said: "If I was giving advice I'd say don't read newspapers, don't look at the TV or anything like that.

BBC

"I'm giving advice.

The Guardian - Sport

If I were giving advice to Sen. Obama, I would tell him, "Get every vote you can, but tell them where you stand.

Huffington Post

I'm assuming this writer I'm giving advice to has already handled the basics - read widely in the genres, developing a good writing habit and honed their writing skills.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using active voice constructions like "Someone gave me advice" for a more direct and concise statement, especially in informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using this phrase if you're unsure who gave the advice. If the source is vague, consider a more general statement like "I received some helpful advice".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was given advice" functions as a passive voice construction where the subject ("I") receives the action (being given advice). This contrasts with an active voice construction like "Someone gave me advice". According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I was given advice" is a grammatically sound phrase used to indicate the receipt of guidance or recommendations, according to Ludwig. It functions in the passive voice, emphasizing that the speaker received the advice from someone else. While it can be used in various contexts, it is most common in News & Media. Alternatives include phrases like "I received counsel" or "I obtained guidance". It's important to consider whether active voice constructions would be more appropriate for directness. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness and usability in English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I received counsel

Replaces "advice" with a more formal synonym, "counsel".

I obtained guidance

Substitutes "given advice" with "obtained guidance", focusing on the act of receiving direction.

Advice was offered to me

Rephrases the sentence to emphasize the offering of advice.

I sought advice and received it

Emphasizes the seeking and receiving of advice.

I was counseled

Simplifies the phrase to a more direct passive form using "counseled".

I had advice imparted to me

Uses a more formal and less common phrasing.

Recommendations were made to me

Focuses on the "recommendations" received.

I was given direction

Replaces "advice" with "direction", implying a more specific type of guidance.

Guidance was provided to me

Similar to "advice was offered", but uses "guidance".

I was furnished with suggestions

Uses more formal vocabulary to describe receiving suggestions.

FAQs

What's the difference between "I was given advice" and "I received advice"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct and have similar meanings. "I was given advice" emphasizes the giver of the advice, while "I received advice" focuses on the act of getting it. They are often interchangeable.

Is it better to say "I was given advice" or "I was advised"?

"I was advised" is more concise and direct. "I was given advice" is slightly more descriptive and can imply a more informal setting. For example, "I was advised" to seek legal counsel is more formal than "I was given advice about my legal situation".

How can I rephrase "I was given advice" to sound more active?

To use a more active voice, you can say "Someone gave me advice" or "I sought and received advice". These options place the emphasis on the actions of giving or seeking, rather than passively receiving.

What are some synonyms for "advice" when using the phrase "I was given advice"?

You can replace "advice" with words like "guidance", "counsel", "suggestions", or "recommendations" depending on the context. For example, "I was given guidance" is a good alternative.