application has been turned down

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "application has been turned down" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when informing someone that their request or application has been rejected or denied. Example: "I regret to inform you that your application has been turned down due to insufficient qualifications."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

This is the first time any part of its application has been turned down.

The New York Times

Indeed, no renewal application has been turned down by the agency since the first one was granted in 2000, although some have been sent back for more work before winning approval.

The New York Times

Immigration caseworkers have said that if clients can no longer access their Home Office files they will never discover why a residency application has been turned down and will be unable to challenge administrative mistakes.

The Guardian - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Usman said he had been told his application had been turned down, without any reason given or any paperwork.

The Guardian

When his lawyer called to say that the trademark registration application had been turned down, Tam thought it was a joke.

The Washington Post

The Duncan School of Law in Knoxville, Tenn., whose quest for A.B.A. approval was the subject of an article in The New York Times on Sunday, learned on Tuesday that its application had been turned down.

The New York Times

Confirmation that the application had been turned down and the Guardian would not be able to enter the country to cover the event and associated issues was not received until Thursday morning – the day before the opening ceremony and three hours before the flight that had been booked.

The Guardian - Sport

McGuinn had actually attempted to trademark the Byrds name himself during the 1970s, in order to prevent its misuse, but his application had been turned down.

Wikipedia

Among the thousands of people whose applications have been turned down is Jean, who arrived in 2001 after fleeing ethnic violence in his home country of Burundi.

The Guardian

Only 4% of the 25,000 submitted applications have been turned down, and 62% of those writing programs for the iPhone were new to the Apple platform.

The Guardian - Tech

It and two others -- one in Scotland and one near Heathrow airport -- were built to ensure that asylum-seekers whose applications had been turned down were housed in designated centers, not in Britain's overcrowded prisons, while awaiting deportation.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using alternative phrases like "application was rejected" or "application was denied" to vary your language and maintain clarity.

Common error

Avoid using the passive voice without specifying who turned down the application. For example, instead of just stating "application has been turned down", clarify who made the decision (e.g. "the committee turned down the application").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "application has been turned down" functions as a declarative statement communicating the rejection of an application. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

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, the phrase "application has been turned down" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate that an application has been rejected. As noted by Ludwig, the phrase is suitable for use in various contexts, predominantly in news, formal business settings, and science, and while alternatives like "application was rejected" or "application was denied" exist, this phrase remains a clear and acceptable choice. When using this phrase, providing specific reasons for the rejection can enhance clarity and maintain professionalism.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

application was rejected

Replaces "turned down" with a more direct synonym, maintaining the original meaning.

application was denied

Similar to "rejected", offers a straightforward substitute for "turned down".

application was not approved

States that the application failed to gain approval.

application was declined

A formal synonym for "turned down", often used in official contexts.

application met with refusal

Uses a more formal and somewhat indirect expression for the rejection.

application suffered a rejection

Emphasizes the negative outcome of the application process.

request was disapproved

Shifts focus from "application" to "request", implying a similar rejection.

application did not succeed

Offers a gentler way of saying the application was not approved.

application faced a negative outcome

Focuses on the result, avoiding direct mention of rejection.

the thumbs down was given to the application

A metaphor for being turned down.

FAQs

What are some polite ways to say an "application has been turned down"?

You can use phrases like "application was not approved", "application was declined", or "application did not succeed" to soften the news while remaining professional.

Is it better to say "application was rejected" or "application has been turned down"?

Both are correct, but "application was rejected" is more direct and commonly used. "Application has been turned down" is also acceptable and may sound slightly less harsh, depending on context.

What are the common reasons why an "application has been turned down"?

Common reasons include insufficient qualifications, incomplete information, high competition, failure to meet specific criteria, or issues with the application itself (e.g., errors, omissions).

How can I improve my chances of not having my "application has been turned down"?

Thoroughly review the requirements, provide complete and accurate information, highlight relevant qualifications and experiences, and seek feedback on your application before submitting it.