building was constructed

USAGE SUMMARY

"building was constructed" is correct and quite commonly used in written English.
For example, "The office building was constructed in 2001."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The building was constructed in 1933 to house Maryland Distillery, the first distillery to open in the state after Prohibition.

Forbes

The building was constructed in 1908, Capt.

The New York Times

The building was constructed 20 years ago.

The New York Times

In 1834 a new building was constructed.

Cornell University

The present Scalzi Park building was constructed in 1959.

The New York Times

The building was constructed throughout mainly of wood.

The Guardian

The building was constructed in 1987, according to city records.

The New York Times

The building was constructed from angelique teak, a gift of the French government.

The New York Times - Arts

The 12-story building was constructed in 1908 and houses more than 100 fashion showrooms.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

The building was constructed, but the project went bankrupt, and Trump's name was removed from it.

The New Yorker

By 1946 the synagogue became so popular that a second building was constructed next door for social gatherings.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "building was constructed" in formal writing when you want to emphasize the building itself rather than the process of its construction. For example, "The building was constructed to withstand earthquakes."

Common error

Avoid using "building was constructed by itself" because a building cannot construct itself. Specify who or what was responsible for the construction, or rephrase to use active voice, such as "The company constructed the building."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "building was constructed" serves as a passive construction, indicating that the building is the recipient of the action. Ludwig AI confirms that is a common and grammatically correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Academia

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "building was constructed" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction to describe the creation of a building. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread acceptability. It is most common in news, academic, and encyclopedia contexts. While "building was built" serves as a more succinct alternative, "building was constructed" often conveys a slightly more formal tone. Be sure to include the year or by whom it was constructed for clarity. When constructing, be mindful of the passive voice and who the actor is when constructing your sentence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the structure was built

Uses a simpler synonym for "constructed".

the building's construction took place

Focuses on the construction process itself, rather than the completed structure.

construction of the building occurred

Rephrases to emphasize the action of building.

the building came into existence

Emphasizes the building's creation or origin.

the edifice was erected

Uses a more formal and archaic term for building.

the building's creation happened

Similar to "came into existence" but slightly more literal.

the establishment was raised

Uses a different verb with a slightly different connotation.

the premises were developed

Focuses on the development aspect of the building.

the framework was assembled

Focuses on the act of putting together the building's frame.

the building process was completed

Focuses on the completion of building process.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "building was constructed" to sound more active?

You can use active voice constructions like "Engineers built the building" or "The construction company erected the structure". This puts emphasis on the actors involved rather than the building itself.

What is the difference between saying "building was constructed" and "building was built"?

While both phrases are grammatically correct and have similar meanings, "building was constructed" is often perceived as slightly more formal than "building was built".

Is it correct to say "building was constructed in 1920s" or "building was constructed in the 1920s"?

Both are correct, but "building was constructed in the 1920s" is more common and grammatically preferred. The "the" specifies that you're referring to the decade as a whole.

What other words can I use instead of "constructed"?

Synonyms for "constructed" include "built", "erected", "assembled", and "fabricated". The best choice depends on the specific context and the desired level of formality.