a message was shown

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a message was shown" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing an event where a message was displayed or presented to someone, often in the context of software, notifications, or communication. Example: "After the user clicked the button, a message was shown indicating that the operation was successful."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

According to the BBC, a message was shown during the film saying that the broadcast was done to mark the 10th anniversary of diplomatic ties between North Korea and Britain.

The New York Times

After the last trial, a message was shown stating that the run had ended.

Cerebral Cortex

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

In case, where there are no Los for recommendation then a message is shown to learner (i.e., there is no recommendation available for you. Please check back at later time!). Figure 6 shows an example of a recommendation for a learner.

Vietnam Journal of Computer Science

If they did not look at T2 within 800 ms, an error message was shown on the screen, and a new trial was started.

Attention, Perception & Psychophysics

If T1 was not reached after 800 ms, an error message was shown on the screen for 1 s, and the trial was started again.

Attention, Perception & Psychophysics

A get well message was shown on the big screen as supporters chanted his name.

BBC

Prior to Wednesday's game at home to Milwaukee, his video message was shown.

BBC

Otherwise, the system's suggestion is empty and a "not found" message is shown.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

If the confidence score of the top candidate sentence is very low, a "not found" message is shown to the user.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Amid a flurry of ads and spots, the "don't pirate this movie" message is shown.

Los Angeles Times

The byte-level encoding of each message is shown below.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a message was shown", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what presented the message. This helps avoid ambiguity.

Common error

While grammatically correct, overuse of the passive voice (e.g., "a message was shown") can make writing seem vague. Consider using the active voice (e.g., "the system showed a message") for a more direct and engaging style.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a message was shown" functions as a passive construction, indicating that a message was presented or displayed to someone or something. As shown by Ludwig, it's frequently used to describe system notifications, alerts, or information displays.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a message was shown" is a grammatically correct and neutrally-toned phrase used to describe the presentation of a message. Ludwig indicates that it is commonly found in news, science, and business contexts. Though acceptable, passive constructions like this can often be improved by using the active voice to add more clarity and impact. While Ludwig confirms its validity, consider alternatives like "the system displayed a message" for stronger writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a screen displayed a message

This alternative specifies that a message appeared on a screen.

a notification appeared

This alternative focuses on the visual display of a notification, commonly on digital interfaces.

a prompt was displayed

This alternative specifies the presentation of a prompt, often requiring user interaction.

the content was displayed

This alternative uses a more general term than "message", focusing on displayed content.

a signal was presented

This alternative describes a more general presentation of a signal, not necessarily textual.

the information was revealed

This alternative implies that the information was previously hidden or unknown.

the announcement was made

This alternative implies a formal or public declaration.

a communication was presented

This alternative provides a broader term than "message", referring to any form of communication.

a demonstration was presented

This alternative implies visual communication instead of textual.

a visual cue was given

This alternative replaces message with the more specific "visual cue", suggesting visual guidance was given.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "a message was shown" to be more active?

You can use alternatives like "the system displayed a message", "the screen showed a notification", or "the application presented a warning" to create a more active and direct sentence structure.

What does "a message was shown" imply about the recipient?

It implies that the recipient saw or was presented with the message. The context usually indicates whether the recipient understood or acted upon the message.

Is it better to use "a message was displayed" or "a message was shown"?

Both are grammatically correct and often interchangeable. However, "a message was displayed" may sound slightly more formal in some contexts, while "a message was shown" is generally more common.

Can "a message was shown" refer to non-textual messages?

While it typically refers to textual messages, the phrase can also apply to visual messages or cues. For example, "a visual cue was given" or "a symbol was shown" are similar usages.