being held shut

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "being held shut" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is being kept closed or secured in a closed position, often referring to doors, containers, or similar objects. Example: "The box was being held shut by a heavy weight on top of it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

If a child's mouth is being held shut, sometimes the man's fingers can be bitten hard.

The New York Times - Health

I ran to another door that was being held shut by two other warders and I managed to shoulder it open.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The zip was held shut by a common travel-style Yale padlock through holes in two zip fasteners.

The Guardian

The DNA barrel, which acts as a container, is held shut by special DNA latches that can recognize and seek out combinations of cell-surface proteins, including disease markers.

Harvard University

If, when the subject has become completely dark-adapted, one eye is held shut and the other exposed to a bright light for a little while, it is found that, whereas the dark-adapted eye retains its high sensitivity, that of the light-exposed eye has decreased greatly; it requires another period of dark adaptation for the two eyes to become equally sensitive.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Ms. Rich, who is 19 and one of the island's 350 year-round residents, said that she and her friends "take it trailing through the woods" -- which somewhat explains why the driver's side door is broken and must be held shut with a rope.

The New York Times - Travel

The trapdoor is held shut if a molecule collides from the left, but is opened by a fast collision from the right, so that a pressure difference develops.

SEP

The muscles that close the jaws are much more massive and powerful than the ones that open them, and a crocodilian's jaws can be held shut by a person fairly easily.

Wikipedia

Make sure the bag is held shut and shake until all the crickets have been covered in the powder, they may not move as much as the shaking may have dazed them but this makes no difference to the reptiles.

WikiHow

This comes at the same time that Danish police are bracing for a mass protest, organized by Climate Justice Action, that will march onto the Bella Center where the UN conference is being held, attempting to shut down the talks out of protest that real solutions to the climate crisis are not being discussed.

Huffington Post

The lower half of the back is a hinged panel, held shut magnetically until you pop it out with a fingernail.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "being held shut" to describe a temporary or ongoing action of keeping something closed against a force or expectation of it opening. For example, "The door was being held shut against the wind."

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on passive constructions like "being held shut". In some contexts, active voice alternatives like "someone held the door shut" can create a more direct and engaging sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "being held shut" functions as a passive verb phrase, typically describing an object or opening that is kept closed by an external force or action. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "being held shut" is a passive construction describing a state of imposed closure. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and usable in English, though relatively rare. Primarily found in News & Media, Wiki, and Science contexts, it conveys an active effort to maintain closure, as demonstrated by the provided examples. When writing, prefer it when you want to highlight this effort or lack of agency of the subject.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

kept closed

Focuses on the state of being closed, rather than the action of holding it.

maintained closed

Emphasizes the continuous effort to keep something closed.

secured shut

Highlights the action of making sure something is firmly closed.

fastened shut

Implies using a fastener to keep something closed.

remained closed

Highlights the state of remaining in a closed state.

sealed closed

Indicates closing something in a way that prevents anything from entering or escaping.

latched shut

Suggests using a latch to keep something closed.

held in place

Focuses on preventing movement rather than specifically being closed.

barred shut

Suggests preventing entry through a secured closing mechanism.

blocked off

Implies preventing access rather than just closing.

FAQs

How can I use "being held shut" in a sentence?

The phrase "being held shut" describes something actively kept in a closed position. For instance, "The child's mouth was "being held shut" to prevent them from crying out."

What are some alternatives to "being held shut"?

Alternatives include phrases like "kept closed", "secured shut", or "remained closed", depending on the nuance you want to convey. The best choice depends on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "being held shut" over "kept shut"?

"Being held shut" emphasizes the active effort of keeping something closed, while "kept shut" simply describes a state of being closed. For example, compare "The door was "being held shut" by protesters" versus "The museum was "kept shut" due to renovations."

Is "being held shut" formal or informal?

The phrase "being held shut" is generally neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, consider whether a more direct active voice construction might be clearer or more impactful.