complaint was settled

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "complaint was settled" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a situation where a dispute or issue has been resolved to the satisfaction of the parties involved. Example: "After several discussions, the complaint was settled amicably between the two parties."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

(The complaint was settled confidentially).

The New Yorker

(The complaint was settled as part of his separation agreement with Citigroup).

The New York Times

The new complaint was settled in April but terms weren't disclosed.

Forbes

While the original sexual harassment complaint was settled in July 2009, Gaul and her attorney, Shannon Stokes, are currently suing the FRC for illegally retaliating against her.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The funds later withdrew their complaint and the case was settled.

Los Angeles Times

Another complaint, by Tom Petty against Sam Smith, was settled quickly and stealthily out of court last year.

The Guardian - Music

The UCS members dialled 1330 to seek advice or make complaint where simple conflict resolution was settled between patients and providers by call centre staff.

Health Policy and Planning

For starters, at least one of the harassment complaints the Times wrote about was settled before 2004, the year Fox told The Huffington Post that it launched its hotline.

Huffington Post

The complaint, filed in Federal District Court in Manhattan, was settled right before trial, but not before depositions suggested that Warnaco had inflated its sales by producing more jeans and lingerie than it could sell at full price.

The New York Times

Banks and building societies were told they could hold on to complaints from customers until the case was settled.

The Guardian - Money

Surprisingly when all was settled it appeared that the teams had been working without any significant complaints with the standardized data forms designed for data management purposes.

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "complaint was settled", ensure that the context clearly indicates who filed the complaint and against whom, to avoid ambiguity. For example, "The customer's complaint against the company was settled out of court."

Common error

Avoid overuse of passive voice when using "complaint was settled". While grammatically correct, it can sometimes obscure who took action. Consider rephrasing to highlight the actor. For example, instead of "The complaint was settled by the company", try "The company settled the complaint".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "complaint was settled" functions as a declarative statement indicating the resolution of a formal grievance. It follows a passive voice construction, focusing on the action taken (settlement) rather than the actor. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "complaint was settled" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that indicates the resolution of a grievance, most commonly appearing in News & Media and Scientific contexts. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase effectively communicates that an issue has been resolved, often through a formal agreement. While alternatives like "grievance was resolved" or "dispute was adjudicated" can provide nuanced variations, it's important to consider the specific context to ensure the most appropriate phrasing is selected. When using the phrase, clarity is key, and avoiding overuse of the passive voice can enhance the impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

grievance was resolved

Replaces "complaint" with "grievance", emphasizing the nature of the issue being addressed, and "settled" with "resolved" offering a slightly more formal tone.

claim was resolved

Replaces "complaint" with "claim", which is common in legal contexts, and uses "resolved" as an alternative to "settled".

the disagreement was resolved

Replaces "complaint" with "disagreement" and "settled" with "resolved", indicating a conflict or difference of opinion has been addressed and concluded.

dispute was adjudicated

Substitutes "complaint" with "dispute" and "settled" with "adjudicated", suggesting a more formal, legal process of resolution.

matter was concluded

Replaces "complaint" with the more general "matter" and "settled" with "concluded", indicating a sense of finality and completion.

the suit was resolved

Replaces "complaint" with "suit," indicating a legal action, and uses "resolved" as an alternative to "settled".

issue was laid to rest

Replaces the formal term with a more idiomatic expression indicating a final resolution.

case was closed

This alternative is commonly used in legal and investigative contexts to indicate the end of a case.

the matter was put to bed

An idiomatic alternative suggesting the issue has been completely resolved and is no longer a concern.

problem was fixed

Offers a more informal way to describe the resolution of a complaint by focusing on correcting an issue.

FAQs

What does it mean when a "complaint was settled"?

It means that the issue raised in the complaint has been resolved, typically through an agreement between the involved parties. This could involve compensation, policy changes, or other forms of resolution.

What can I say instead of "complaint was settled"?

You can use alternatives like "grievance was resolved", "dispute was adjudicated", or "matter was concluded" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "complaint was resolved" or "complaint was settled"?

Both "complaint was resolved" and "complaint was settled" are correct. "Resolved" often implies a more formal or complete solution, while "settled" can suggest an agreement was reached, possibly with compromises from both sides. The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What happens after a "complaint was settled"?

Typically, the terms of the settlement are implemented, and the matter is considered closed. Depending on the agreement, there may be confidentiality clauses preventing either party from discussing the details publicly.