be operated on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be operated on" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in a medical context to indicate that a patient is undergoing a surgical procedure. Example: "The doctor informed the family that the patient would need to be operated on immediately due to the severity of the injury."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

The only treatment for the tumor is surgery, and cases that cannot be operated on are invariably fatal.

The New York Times - Science

"He's broken his knee and will be operated on tomorrow.

BBC

4 For example, one patient may be operated on once and then experience a long period of quiescent disease.

Gut

Ten patients (7% of the sample) presented an indication for surgical intervention, but one refused to be operated on.

Clinical interventions in aging

No one would want to be operated on by an amateur who hadn't had years of experience.

The Guardian - Opinion

Others will be operated on by a neurosurgeon in England.

The New Yorker

The machine weighs 15 lbs; can be operated on 2 9-volt batteries.

The New Yorker

Clegg will announce the scheme will be operated on a payments-by-results basis.

The Guardian

The whole of the Thames barrier will be operated on Friday".

The Guardian

She hoped it could be operated on, but the prognosis did not seem good.

The New Yorker

His rotator cuff tore and had to be operated on a number of times.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about medical procedures, use the phrase "be operated on" to clearly indicate that a patient is the recipient of the surgical action. For clarity, specify who will perform the surgery, if known, as in "be operated on by Dr. Smith".

Common error

Avoid using "be operated on" without clarifying who is performing the operation. Ambiguity can arise if the actor is not specified, leading to uncertainty about responsibility and expertise.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be operated on" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that someone is the recipient of a surgical procedure. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its use in contexts where the patient is acted upon by a medical professional. It's a common way to describe a medical intervention from the patient's perspective.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

59%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be operated on" is a grammatically sound and very common passive verb phrase used to describe the act of undergoing surgery. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides numerous examples from authoritative sources. While appropriate for a range of contexts, from news reports to scientific literature, clarifying who will perform the operation enhances precision. Alternatives like "undergo surgery" offer stylistic variations for different communication needs.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

undergo surgery

Focuses on the action of having surgery performed.

receive an operation

Emphasizes the reception of a surgical procedure.

have a surgical procedure

Highlights the type of medical intervention involved.

get surgery

A more informal way of expressing undergoing surgery.

be subjected to surgery

Suggests a mandatory or unavoidable nature of the operation.

require surgical intervention

Focuses on the necessity of a surgical procedure.

go under the knife

An idiomatic expression implying surgery.

be surgically treated

Highlights that surgery is the method of treatment.

be operated upon

A more formal and slightly archaic variation of the original phrase.

be treated surgically

Emphasizes the manner of medical treatment received.

FAQs

What does it mean to "be operated on"?

To "be operated on" means to undergo a surgical procedure, where a surgeon performs an operation on a patient to treat a medical condition or injury.

What can I say instead of "be operated on"?

You can use alternatives like "undergo surgery", "receive an operation", or "have a surgical procedure" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "be operated on" or "undergo surgery"?

Both "be operated on" and "undergo surgery" are correct, but "undergo surgery" might be preferred in more formal or professional contexts.

How do I use "be operated on" in a sentence?

You can use "be operated on" in a sentence like this: "The doctor said the patient will "need to be operated on" immediately".