application was turned down

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "The application was turned down" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this sentence in many contexts. For example, "I applied for a job, but my application was turned down."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

But Mr. Kearney's application was turned down.

The New York Times

Yet her asylum application was turned down.

The Guardian

An initial application was turned down.

The Guardian - Sport

His application was turned down & he was transferred to Cannon.

The New Yorker

Needless to say, her application was turned down.

The Economist

But his son's initial application was turned down in 2003.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

Neither applicants nor funders discuss the reasons an application is turned down.

Huffington Post

Once an application is turned down, the asylum seeker loses all eligibility for accommodation and financial support.

The Guardian

You can find a helpful overview of the whole process, including suggestions on what to do if your application is turned down, at Houseextension.co.uk.

The Guardian - Money

So if you are intending to apply for a mortgage, credit card or another form of credit, or hire purchase or a mobile phone you may find that your application is turned down if the lender checks your credit file.

The Guardian - Money

"We are very sorry to hear of this tragic incident and our thoughts are with all who knew him". Under UK Government rules, if an asylum application is turned down, an individual should leave the country within 21 days.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "application was turned down", ensure the context clearly identifies what type of application is being referred to. This avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using present tense when describing a past event. For example, instead of "The application is turned down", use "The application was turned down".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "application was turned down" functions as a passive construction, indicating that an application received a negative decision. Ludwig shows numerous examples where this phrase is used to report the outcome of various application processes, such as job applications, asylum requests, and funding proposals.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "application was turned down" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that an application has been rejected. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is widely used across various contexts, including news, science, and general information. While several alternative phrases exist, such as "application was rejected" or "application was unsuccessful", the original phrase remains a clear and effective way to convey this meaning. It's crucial to ensure proper tense agreement and clarity regarding the specific type of application being discussed for optimal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

application was rejected

Replaces "turned down" with the synonym "rejected".

application was declined

Uses a more formal synonym for 'turned down'.

application was not approved

Focuses on the lack of approval.

application was refused

Uses "refused" as an alternative to "turned down".

application was unsuccessful

Replaces the verb phrase with an adjective.

application met with rejection

Changes the structure to emphasize the rejection.

application suffered a rejection

Emphasizes the negative outcome of the application.

application failed to pass

Implies a formal process that the application did not clear.

application did not succeed

Expresses the failure of the application in a more general way.

application didn't make the cut

An idiomatic way of saying the application was not selected.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "application was turned down" to sound more formal?

You could use alternatives like "application was declined" or "application was rejected" for a more formal tone.

What are common reasons why an "application was turned down"?

Reasons vary depending on the context, but can include insufficient qualifications, incomplete information, or high competition.

How to respond after my "application was turned down"?

Consider asking for feedback to understand the reasons for the rejection. This can help improve future applications. You might say, "I'm disappointed my "application was turned down". Could you provide any feedback for future improvement?"

Is there a difference between "application was rejected" and "application was turned down"?

The phrases are largely synonymous, but "application was rejected" may sound slightly more formal or definitive than ""application was turned down"".