communication was severed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "communication was severed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where a means of communication has been interrupted or cut off, often in contexts involving technology or relationships. Example: "After the storm, communication was severed between the two cities, leaving residents isolated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Ahead of the storms, the Weather Service readied "preselected backup offices" to handle forecasting for offices in the path of hurricanes in case communication was severed, Vaccaro said.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Today, that kind of communication is severed".

The New York Times

Children learn to talk by listening to others speak, but what happens when that line of communication is severed?

Science Magazine

Usually, this poses only minor problems because once they leave a coverage area and real-time communication is severed, their PDAs cache the latest version of the database they accessed.

Forbes

Until recently, there has been virtually no official contact between the two countries; the lines of communication were severed for obvious reasons.

Huffington Post

During Hurricane Katrina our primary lines of communication were severed or overwhelmed.

Critical Care

Communications were severed in Pensacola, Florida.

Wikipedia

The news comes just weeks after communication with the lander was severed.

The Guardian

Communication throughout southern Florida was severed as miles of telegraph wires were downed during the evening of November 30.

Wikipedia

Controllers in Westbury were able to switch to backup frequencies, Mr. Peters said, but for the few moments it took them to realize the situation and react to it, all communication between ground and air was severed.

The New York Times

For the Allies, all communication between their northern and southern forces was severed by the arc of the westward German advance from the Ardennes to the Somme.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "communication was severed" to describe a clear and complete break in communication, particularly when emphasizing the abruptness or finality of the disconnection.

Common error

Avoid using "communication was severed" when a temporary disruption or minor interruption occurs. Opt for words like "disrupted" or "interrupted" to more accurately reflect the situation.

Linguistic Context

"Communication was severed" functions as a passive construction indicating that communication has been completely cut off. Ludwig confirms its usability. This construction highlights the result of an action, emphasizing the state of disconnection rather than the actor causing it. The examples show its use in describing various types of communication breakdowns.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "communication was severed" is a grammatically correct and widely used passive construction that describes a complete break in communication. Ludwig's analysis of numerous examples shows that this phrase is most commonly found in news reports, scientific articles, and encyclopedic entries, indicating a neutral register. While useful for conveying a sense of finality, care should be taken to not overuse it in situations where a simple disruption is more accurate. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness and provides useful alternatives such as "communication lines were cut" or "communication was disrupted".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

communication lines were cut

Replaces "severed" with "cut", implying a more abrupt or forceful disconnection.

communication links were broken

Substitutes "severed" with "broken", suggesting a disruption that renders communication impossible.

communication was disrupted

Replaces "severed" with "disrupted", indicating a disturbance rather than a complete cut-off.

communication was interrupted

Emphasizes a temporary halt in communication, unlike the finality of "severed".

lines of communication were lost

Focuses on the loss of contact rather than the act of severing.

contact was lost

Generalizes the loss of communication to any form of contact.

ties were severed

Shifts the focus to the relationship itself being cut off, not just the communication.

there was a communication breakdown

Highlights the failure of communication systems rather than a deliberate act.

communication ceased

A more formal way of saying communication stopped completely.

dialogue was halted

Specifically refers to the cessation of conversation or discussion.

FAQs

What does "communication was severed" mean?

The phrase "communication was severed" means that the ability to communicate has been completely cut off or disconnected. This can refer to literal lines of communication, like phone lines, or more abstract forms of communication, like diplomatic relations.

What can I say instead of "communication was severed"?

You can use alternatives like "communication lines were cut", "communication was disrupted", or "contact was lost depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "communication is severed"?

Yes, "communication is severed" is grammatically correct, but "communication was severed" implies that the action has already happened. The tense depends on whether you are describing a past event or a current state.

What is the difference between "communication was severed" and "communication was interrupted"?

"Communication was severed" implies a complete and possibly permanent break in communication, while "communication was interrupted" suggests a temporary pause or disruption. The former is more severe than the latter.