a recommendation was made

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a recommendation was made" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to indicate that someone has suggested a course of action or decision. Example: "After reviewing the project, a recommendation was made to increase the budget for further development."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

On August 22nd 1947 a recommendation was made to free Shoriki, and he walked out after 21 months inside.

The Economist

For the first time in a family violence-related inquest nationally, a recommendation was made that a state family violence advocacy service be created to provide services and advice for women and families trying to escape abuse.

The Guardian

At that point, a recommendation was made to leave the Jessica where she foundered and allow her to become an artifical reef, soon to become encrusted in coral and the home of marine animals.

The New York Times - Travel

Based on the prioritizations of customer orders, a recommendation was made to the case company.

International Journal of Production Economics

A recommendation was made to avoid strenuous push pull tasks at neutral reach envelopes.

Applied Ergonomics

A recommendation was made by the attending radiologist to perform a contrasted CT to evaluate for possible abscess.

Critical Ultrasound Journal

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Stratulis explains once a recommendation is made, you then have to go through a very lengthy legal process.

The Guardian

A recommendation is made on this important question, which does not appear to have been considered before.

Journal of Constructional Steel Research

A resonance problem is identified and a recommendation is made for the use of phase-domain modelling for long asymmetrical cable systems.

Electric Power Systems Research

A recommendation is made for current design practice of evaluating the flexural strength of the box section when subjected to eccentric loading.

Thin-Walled Structures

First, a recommendation is made that instructional designers who wish to create more embodied content deeply consider the affordances of their chosen technology; they should think through how gestures can be integrated with the technology and the content.

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal settings or official reports, "a recommendation was made" is preferable to more informal alternatives like "someone suggested."

Common error

While "a recommendation was made" is grammatically correct, overuse of passive voice can make your writing sound impersonal and less direct. Consider rephrasing to active voice where appropriate, such as "the committee recommended..." to increase clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a recommendation was made" functions as a statement indicating that a suggestion or piece of advice has been formally given. As noted by Ludwig AI, it's a grammatically sound passive construction used when the action is more important than the actor.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a recommendation was made" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression for indicating that advice or a suggestion has been formally presented. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's suitable for professional and formal contexts, particularly in science, news and media, and business. While versatile, it's important to avoid overusing passive voice and consider active alternatives for more direct communication. Related phrases like "a suggestion was put forward" or "a proposal was submitted" can offer nuance and variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a suggestion was put forward

Emphasizes the act of proposing an idea or plan.

a proposal was submitted

Highlights the formal submission of a plan for consideration.

a decision was advised

Focuses on the advice given regarding a specific decision.

an opinion was offered

Highlights a personal viewpoint or judgment being shared.

a determination was suggested

Emphasizes the proposition of a specific determination.

a course of action was advised

Highlights the advice given for a particular path or strategy.

a solution was proposed

Focuses on suggesting a fix or resolution to a problem.

it was advised to

More concise and direct, omitting "recommendation" explicitly.

it was suggested that

Uses "suggested" to convey a similar meaning to "recommendation".

the committee advised

Identifies the actor giving advice.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "a recommendation was made" to sound more active?

You can rephrase it to use the active voice. For instance, instead of "a recommendation was made", try "the committee recommended" or "the expert panel suggested".

What is a more formal alternative to "a recommendation was made"?

A more formal alternative could be "a proposal was submitted" or "a determination was suggested", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it always necessary to specify who made the recommendation?

No, it is not always necessary. The phrase "a recommendation was made" is useful when the source of the recommendation is unimportant or unknown, or when you want to focus on the recommendation itself rather than the person who made it.

What's the difference between "a suggestion was made" and "a recommendation was made"?

While both phrases indicate that an idea was put forward, "a recommendation was made" implies a more formal or expert endorsement, whereas "a suggestion was made" can refer to a more casual or preliminary idea.