be promoted to

USAGE SUMMARY

"be promoted to" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is used to indicate when someone is given a higher position or rank in their job or organization. Example: After working hard for several years, Sarah was finally promoted to the position of manager.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

He could be promoted to teacher.

The New York Times

John Desmond will be promoted to lead the Probation Department.

The New York Times

It's possible that she won't be promoted to third grade.

The New York Times

With a little political skill, you might be promoted to middle-management.

The New York Times

The last emails from her talked about how she was going to be promoted to sergeant.

The Guardian

At age 18, he may be promoted to the senior team or leave the team.

The New York Times - Sports

He was scheduled to be promoted to major upon returning home.

The New York Times

Kim Mulkey-Robertson, about to be promoted to head coach, left for Baylor.

The New York Times - Sports

She will also be promoted to vice president on April 2.

The New York Times

He said he would push for more Latino officers to be promoted to command ranks.

The New York Times

He wanted to pass the course so he'd be promoted to sergeant and get compassionate posting.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be promoted to" when you want to clearly state that someone has received a higher rank or position within an organization. Ensure the context supports the formality of the phrase.

Common error

Avoid using "be promoted to" when an active voice construction would be clearer and more direct. For example, instead of "He will be promoted to manager", consider "The company will promote him to manager".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be promoted to" functions as a passive construction indicating that an individual receives a higher position or rank. Ludwig's examples confirm its use in describing career advancements.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Science

10%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be promoted to" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe someone's advancement to a higher position, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's frequently used in news and media, as well as in scientific contexts, with a neutral to professional register. While "be promoted to" is generally appropriate for professional announcements, consider using active voice constructions for clearer communication. Related phrases such as "be elevated to" or "be advanced to" can offer subtle variations in meaning depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be elevated to

Replaces "promoted" with "elevated", suggesting a more significant rise in status.

be advanced to

Uses "advanced" instead of "promoted", implying a step forward in career progression.

be upgraded to

Employs "upgraded", suggesting an improvement in rank or position, often used in a more informal context.

be appointed to

Replaces "promoted" with "appointed", indicating a formal assignment to a new role.

be named to

Uses "named", focusing on the act of being selected or designated for a higher position.

be selected for

Focuses on the selection process leading to the higher position, rather than the promotion itself.

move up to

Provides a simpler, more colloquial alternative to "be promoted to", indicating upward movement.

rise to

Suggests an ascent to a higher level, emphasizing the effort or achievement involved.

ascend to

Uses "ascend", offering a more formal and figurative alternative to "be promoted to".

graduate to

Implies a transition to a higher level after completing a previous stage, often used metaphorically.

FAQs

How is "be promoted to" used in a sentence?

The phrase "be promoted to" indicates that someone is receiving a higher rank or position. For example: "After years of hard work, she will "be promoted to" senior manager".

What are some alternatives to "be promoted to"?

Alternatives include phrases like "be elevated to", "be advanced to", or "be appointed to", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What is the difference between "be promoted to" and "get promoted to"?

"Be promoted to" is generally more formal, while "get promoted to" is more casual. The meaning is essentially the same, but the choice depends on the context and audience.

When is it appropriate to use "be promoted to" in writing?

Use "be promoted to" in professional or formal contexts, such as news articles, business reports, or official announcements. In more casual settings, "get promoted to" or other similar phrases may be more suitable.