be assigned

USAGE SUMMARY

"be assigned" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when someone or something is given an assigned task, duty, or responsibility. For example: "The new employees will be assigned specific duties by the end of the week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They would be assigned.

The New York Times

Defendants will be assigned lawyers.

The Economist

Should they be assigned?

Harvard Business Review

Should they not be assigned?

Harvard Business Review

Budgets need to be assigned.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Homework will be assigned weekly.

University of California, Berkeley

Other projects may be assigned.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Workshops will be assigned as space allows.

University of California, Berkeley

Will I be assigned to a team?

Stanford University

Others said that some workers would be assigned fewer hours.

The Washington Post

They may be assigned Rimbaud or Faulkner or even Hemingway.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be assigned", ensure the context clearly indicates who is doing the assigning and what is being assigned. For example, "The project was assigned to the marketing team by the CEO."

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by clearly stating who is assigning the task or role. For instance, instead of saying "The task will be assigned", specify "The manager will assign the task."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be assigned" functions primarily as a passive voice construction, indicating that a subject receives a task, duty, or role. Ludwig's examples show its usage in various contexts, from assigning legal aid lawyers to allocating budgets.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Academia

23%

Science

21%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be assigned" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively conveys the allocation of tasks, duties, or roles. Predominantly found in News & Media, Academia, and Scientific contexts, its register remains largely neutral, suitable for diverse audiences. When employing this phrase, clarity is key: always specify the assigner and the assigned to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "be allocated" or "be designated" can offer nuanced variations, ensuring precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be allocated

Focuses on the distribution of resources or tasks.

be designated

Emphasizes the act of officially naming or choosing someone for a specific purpose.

be appointed

Highlights the formal selection or naming of someone to a position.

be tasked with

Specifically refers to the assignment of a task or duty.

be given the responsibility

Highlights the act of granting duties to someone.

be entrusted with

Implies a sense of trust and confidence in the person receiving the assignment.

be delegated

Suggests that the task was previously held by someone else and is now being passed on.

be nominated

Focuses on formally proposing someone for a role or position.

have the duty

Highlights that the action it's the person's duty to fulfill.

be selected for

Emphasizes the choice of one person or thing over others.

FAQs

How can I use "be assigned" in a sentence?

The phrase "be assigned" is used to indicate that someone is given a particular task, duty, or role. For example, "Each student will "be assigned" a research topic."

What are some alternatives to "be assigned"?

You can use alternatives such as "be allocated", "be designated", or "be appointed" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "was assigned to" or "was assigned with"?

The correct preposition to use with "assigned" is "to". Therefore, "was assigned to" is the correct form. For example, "The detective was assigned to the case."

What is the difference between "be assigned" and "assign"?

"Assign" is an active verb, meaning to give something to someone. "Be assigned" is the passive form, indicating that someone receives something. For example, "The manager will assign the task" (active) versus "The task will "be assigned" by the manager" (passive).