building was built

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "building was built" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the completion of a construction project or to indicate that a structure has been constructed in the past. Example: "The historic building was built in the early 1900s and has since become a landmark in the city."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The building was built for the museum".

The New York Times

Then the Municipal Building was built for bureaucratic overflow.

The New Yorker

Our school building was built for 1,200 people.

The Washington Post

MEIER -- My building was built for $15 million.

The New York Times

The building was built in the early 1900s.

The New York Times

Our multipurpose building was built with escrow funds.

The New York Times

The 24-hour doorman building was built in 1928.

The New York Times

INSIDE: The building was built in 2003, and this unit was renovated in 2010 and 2011.

The New York Times

With roots in the early 19th century, the church's current building was built in 1891.

Independent

A. The existing building was built in 1912 and it's quite a presence on that street.

The New York Times

An untrained eye could never tell the building was built anywhere but on-site.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing historical facts or events related to a building's construction, use "building was built" to maintain a neutral and objective tone. For example, "The Empire State Building was built in fifteen months."

Common error

Do not use overly verbose alternatives like "the building was constructed and built". Choose either "constructed" or "built" to avoid repetition and maintain clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "building was built" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the noun 'building' is the recipient of the action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used to describe the completion of a construction project or a structure's past construction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Wiki

33%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "building was built" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction to describe the construction of a building. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and prevalence across various contexts. It's most common in news and media, Wiki articles, and scientific documents, making it a versatile option for describing the creation of structures. While alternatives exist, this phrase maintains a clear and neutral tone suitable for informational purposes. Remember to avoid redundancy and to use more formal alternatives when the context requires it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

construction of the building was completed

Highlights the completion aspect, emphasizing the end of the building process.

the building's construction took place

Rephrases to highlight the action of construction, focusing on the process.

the construction of the building reached completion

Elaborates on the completion aspect, making it more explicit.

the edifice was erected

Uses a more formal term ("edifice") and verb ("erected") for a more elevated tone.

the building was finalized

Highlights the finality of the construction, indicating readiness for use.

the structure was assembled

Focuses on the assembly aspect, suitable when the building involves prefabricated components.

the building saw its completion

A more literary way to express the building's finished state.

the building was raised

Uses "raised" to indicate the act of vertical construction or bringing the building into existence.

the building process concluded

Shifts focus to the building process itself coming to an end.

the building came into existence

Emphasizes the beginning of the building's existence, as a result of being built.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "building was built"?

Yes, "building was built" is grammatically correct. It uses the passive voice to indicate that the building was the recipient of the action of being built.

What is a more formal alternative to "building was built"?

A more formal alternative is "structure was erected", which uses more elevated vocabulary.

Can I use "building got built" instead of "building was built"?

While "building got built" is sometimes used, it's considered less formal and might not be appropriate for all contexts. "Building was built" is generally preferred for its clarity and formality.

What's the difference between "building was built" and "building was constructed"?

The phrases "building was constructed" and "building was built" are largely interchangeable. "Constructed" might be perceived as slightly more formal, but both convey the same meaning.