be designated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be designated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of assigning a specific role, title, or status to someone or something. Example: "The new committee members will be designated during the upcoming meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

This issue should be designated in designing an adhesive joint.

Applied Adhesion Science

The land would be designated parkland.

The New York Times

London development areas can be designated.

The Guardian - Opinion

First of all a holotype must be designated.

The Guardian

We'd fight about who would be designated drivers.

The New York Times

Each team should be designated as its own division.

The New York Times - Sports

It may be designated a no-smoking zone.

The New York Times

Donations will be designated and accepted by the family.

The New York Times

"It never feels good to be designated," Gonzalez said.

The New York Times - Sports

If we brought the Duck back, the whole property could be designated a national historic site".

The New York Times

All of you could be designated, at a stroke and for life, vulgar, coarse, and inferior.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be designated", ensure the context clearly identifies who or what is doing the designating, even if it's implied. For example, "The area will be designated a protected zone by the city council."

Common error

Avoid using "be designated" in a way that obscures who is responsible for the designation. Overuse of the passive voice can make your writing vague and less impactful. Instead of "The task will be designated", consider "The manager will designate the task".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be designated" functions as a passive verb construction. It indicates that the subject of the sentence is receiving the action of being formally chosen or assigned a specific role, title, or function. Ludwig AI confirms this is a standard and grammatically sound construction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

18%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be designated" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction that implies a formal assignment or naming. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread use across different types of sources. As evidenced by Ludwig, it is commonly found in news articles, scientific papers, and business documents, serving the purpose of clearly defining roles, responsibilities, or classifications. When using this phrase, clarity is key; ensure that the context makes clear who or what is performing the designation. Alternatives such as "be appointed" or "be assigned" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be appointed

Indicates a formal assignment to a role or position.

be assigned

Suggests a task or duty is given to someone.

be named

Implies a formal act of giving a title or name.

be selected

Highlights the process of choosing someone for a specific purpose.

be chosen

Similar to 'be selected' but can imply a more informal process.

be earmarked

Specifies that something is set aside for a particular use.

be allocated

Indicates a specific amount or resource is assigned.

be specified

Emphasizes the clear and detailed identification of something.

be deputized

Suggests being formally authorized to act on behalf of someone else.

be classified

Implies categorization or sorting into a specific group.

FAQs

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

You can use "be designated" to indicate that something or someone has been officially chosen or assigned a specific role, purpose, or name. For example, "This area will "be designated" as a no-parking zone".

What are some alternatives to "be designated"?

Alternatives to "be designated" include "be appointed", "be assigned", "be named", or "be selected". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to use the active or passive voice with "designate"?

While both active and passive voice are grammatically correct, the active voice (e.g., "The committee will designate the winner") is often clearer and more direct. The passive voice ("The winner will "be designated" by the committee") is appropriate when the actor is unknown or less important than the action.

What is the difference between "be designated" and "be considered"?

"Be designated" implies a formal and official assignment or naming. In contrast, "be considered" suggests that something is being thought about or evaluated, but not yet officially decided. For example, "She was designated team captain" versus "She was considered for the position of team captain".