contests was held

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "contests was held" is not correct in written English.
It should be "contests were held" to agree in number with the plural subject "contests." Example: "Last year, several contests were held to promote local talent."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The Eleusinia, which included games and contests, was held every two years, probably in the month of Metageitnion (August September).

Encyclopedia Britannica

The vote, which included hundreds of mayor and local deputy contests, was held under the shadow of drug violence in several important states, and soldiers and police officers guarded many polling places — as well as candidates.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Fiddling is another long-standing Texas musical tradition, and fiddle contests are held across the state.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Dramatic contests were held there, too, before the construction of a separate theatre.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Fairs, festivals, and "kite-fighting" contests are held in the parks.

Encyclopedia Britannica

These contests were held before assemblies of ladies that called themselves courts of love.

The Guardian

Contests were held outdoors, which added the challenge of intense heat and bright sunlight to the fight.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Similar contests were held by Macfadden in 1921 and 1922, with Charles Atlas the winner both times.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It has held up since then, attracting 37.6 million visitors in June, when the final nominating contests were held.

The New York Times

Birling rules became standardized, and camp championship contests were held, followed by intercamp and eventually intersectional contests, finally culminating in national championship tournaments, called rodeos.

Encyclopedia Britannica

— MICHAEL COOPER Even before the votes are counted in the 10 Republican presidential contests being held on Tuesday, the question everyone will be asking is: who won?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure subject-verb agreement by using "were" instead of "was" when referring to multiple "contests". For example, use "contests were held" instead of "contests was held".

Common error

Avoid using singular verbs with plural subjects. "Contests" is plural, so it requires the plural verb "were". Using "was" creates a grammatical error.

Linguistic Context

The phrase is intended to describe past events. However, the phrase "contests was held" is grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig, the correct form should be "contests were held".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

15%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "contests was held" is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "contests were held". Ludwig AI highlights this error due to the subject-verb disagreement. Although the phrase appears in some sources, it is infrequent, and correcting it improves clarity and credibility. The phrase aims to communicate that competitive events occurred, and it's used in neutral contexts like news media and encyclopedias. When writing, always ensure subject-verb agreement to maintain grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

contests took place

Replaces "was held" with "took place", indicating the occurrence of the contests.

contests occurred

Uses "occurred" instead of "was held", emphasizing the happening of the contests.

contests were conducted

Changes the verb "held" to "conducted", implying a formal organization of the contests.

contests transpired

Substitutes "was held" with "transpired", suggesting the contests unfolded or happened.

contests were staged

Replaces "was held" with "were staged", implying a planned and organized event.

contests were carried out

Changes "was held" to "were carried out", emphasizing the execution and completion of the contests.

contests were executed

Changes "was held" to "were executed", highlighting the carrying out of the contests.

contests unfolded

Uses "unfolded" instead of "was held", suggesting the contests progressed and developed.

contests were presented

Replaces "was held" with "were presented", implying the contests were showcased or displayed.

contests came about

Substitutes "was held" with "came about", indicating the contests happened or materialized.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "contests was held"?

The correct phrase is "contests were held". The word "contests" is plural and requires the plural verb form "were".

Is "contests was held" grammatically correct?

No, "contests was held" is grammatically incorrect. The plural subject "contests" requires the plural verb "were", so the correct phrase is "contests were held".

What can I say instead of "contests were held"?

You can use alternatives like "contests took place", "contests occurred", or "competitions were conducted" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "contests was held" and "contests were held"?

"Contests was held" is grammatically incorrect due to subject-verb disagreement. "Contests were held" is the correct form, using the plural verb "were" to match the plural subject "contests".