course was cancelled

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "course was cancelled" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when informing someone that a scheduled course or class will not take place as planned. Example: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, the course was cancelled, and students will be notified about rescheduling options."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

But the course was cancelled!

BBC

But just 10 days before I was to move to the city, the course was cancelled.

Huffington Post

The National Institutes of Health have been very successful in training journalists in the United States how to scrutinize medical evidence in their annual media workshops [ 12]. (Note: The 2013 Medicine in the Media course was cancelled due to federal budget sequestration).

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Even the holiday cocktail party at the golf course was canceled.

The New York Times

The news conference, of course, was canceled, as was a Senate hearing scheduled for that week to debate the adequacy of Mr. Bush's plan.

The New York Times

That tour of course was canceled, and the terrorist attacks cast a pall over business book sales for the rest of the year as readers turned to more spiritual titles such as The Prayer of Jabez.

Forbes

A downhill on the same course was canceled Saturday after a storm destroyed parts of the finish area and the safety fencing along the course.

Los Angeles Times

If a course is cancelled by OLLI at Duke, no charge will be incurred by members.

Duke University

All fees are non-refundable unless a course is cancelled and this is the only course for which you are registered.

Johns Hopkins University

Tolerances for carbofuran were revoked (U.S. EPA 2011a) and use of diazinon on golf courses was cancelled (U.S. EPA 2004), in part because of bird mortality.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Note that if a course is canceled, or if you must drop a course due to a schedule change, your tuition is refunded in full, but you are responsible for textbooks, course packs, travel costs, and other incurred expenses.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "course was cancelled" in formal communications, such as official announcements or academic correspondence.

Common error

Avoid using "course was cancelled" if the course is only being delayed. Use "course was postponed" to indicate a temporary delay instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "course was cancelled" functions as a declarative statement indicating that a specific course has been terminated or called off. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely understood. The examples showcase its use in academic and news contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Academia

33%

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "course was cancelled" is a grammatically sound and readily understandable way to announce the termination of a course. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage. While not exceptionally frequent, it is versatile enough for various communication settings, including academia, news, and general announcements. When employing this phrase, provide clear reasons for the cancellation and detail any alternative solutions. Alternatives include using "course was terminated" or "course was called off", depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

course was terminated

Replaces "cancelled" with "terminated", suggesting a more formal or definitive end to the course.

course was called off

Uses the phrasal verb "called off" instead of "cancelled", offering a slightly more informal tone.

course is not running

Indicates the course isn't proceeding, focusing on the current state rather than the act of cancellation.

course has been discontinued

Emphasizes that the course is no longer offered, implying a permanent change.

course is unavailable

States the course's lack of availability without explicitly mentioning cancellation.

course has been withdrawn

Suggests the course was actively removed from the schedule, possibly due to low enrollment or instructor unavailability.

course is not offered

Focuses on the fact that the course isn't available, without specifying the reason.

course is suspended

Indicates a temporary halt to the course, suggesting it might resume in the future.

course is shut down

Emphasizes the closure of the course, possibly due to external factors or policy changes.

course ceased operation

Implies the course has stopped functioning, which could be due to various reasons.

FAQs

How do I politely inform someone that a "course was cancelled"?

You can say, "I regret to inform you that the "course was cancelled" due to unforeseen circumstances. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause."

What are some common reasons a "course was cancelled"?

Common reasons include low enrollment, instructor unavailability, or unforeseen circumstances such as facility issues or budget cuts.

Is it better to say "course was cancelled" or "course is cancelled"?

"Course was cancelled" refers to a past event (the act of cancelling). "Course is cancelled" is grammatically incorrect; "course is cancelled" is the passive form in present tense, but the cancellation usually happens before the moment of speaking.

What is the difference between "course was cancelled" and "course was postponed"?

"Course was cancelled" means the course will not take place at all, while "course was postponed" means it will be rescheduled for a later date.