debate was held

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "debate was held" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a formal discussion or argument took place on a specific topic. Example: "A debate was held last night regarding the impact of climate change on local communities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

(The debate was held in Buffalo).

The New Yorker

The debate was held at the Foreign Correspondents Club here.

The New York Times

Finally, the debate was held on Darling's grounds.

The Guardian - Opinion

The debate was held in Florida and co-sponsored by Google.

The New York Times

The debate was held at the Manhattan studios of WABC-TV, which co-sponsored it.

The New York Times

The Democratic debate was held in June, and all the major candidates participated.

The New York Times

The first town hall debate was held during the 1992 election.

The Guardian

The debate was held on the 50th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

A debate was held between the two top candidates the final day of the conference.

Los Angeles Times

The first televised Presidential debate was held between Kennedy and Nixon, in 1960.

The New Yorker

Since Tuesday night's Democratic debate was held in a Las Vegas hotel, let's start with the money question: Who won and who lost?

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "debate was held" when you want to emphasize the fact that the event took place, rather than the specific content or outcome of the debate. It's suitable for providing background information or setting the stage for further details.

Common error

Avoid using "debate was held" without providing sufficient context. Specify when and where the debate occurred, and ideally, the topic under discussion. Lack of context can leave the reader wondering about the relevance or significance of the event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "debate was held" functions as a passive construction, indicating that a debate occurred. It is commonly used to introduce or reference a past event, focusing on the occurrence of the debate rather than the actors involved. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Formal & Business

12%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Science

4%

Encyclopedias

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "debate was held" is a grammatically sound and common construction used to indicate that a debate took place. As Ludwig confirms, this phrase is suitable for various contexts, mainly in news and media, as well as formal business settings. When using this phrase, it's beneficial to provide sufficient context regarding the specifics of the debate. While alternatives like "a debate took place" exist, "debate was held" effectively communicates that a debate occurred, setting the stage for further details or analysis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a debate took place

Replaces the passive voice with an active construction.

a debate occurred

Uses a different verb to indicate the event of a debate.

the debate transpired

Employs a more formal verb to describe the debate happening.

the discussion was conducted

Substitutes "debate" with "discussion", focusing on the conversational aspect.

a forum was convened

Indicates a more structured and formal setting for the debate.

the arguments were presented

Highlights the presentation of opposing viewpoints during the debate.

the matter was argued

Focuses on the act of arguing different sides of an issue.

the issue was discussed

Replaces "debate" with a more general term for a formal conversation.

a hearing was conducted

Suggests a more formal and often legal context for the debate.

the candidates clashed

Emphasizes the confrontational aspect of the debate.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "debate was held"?

You can use phrases like "a debate took place", "a debate occurred", or "the issue was discussed" to express a similar meaning.

Is "debate was held" grammatically correct?

Yes, "debate was held" is grammatically correct. It uses the passive voice to indicate that a debate happened.

When is it appropriate to use "debate was held"?

It is appropriate to use "debate was held" when you want to focus on the fact that the debate occurred, rather than the participants or the content of the debate. It's often used to provide context or background information.

What is the difference between "debate was held" and "a debate took place"?

Both phrases have similar meanings. "Debate was held" uses the passive voice, while "a debate took place" uses the active voice. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the action (taking place) or the event (being held).