distributed a message

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "distributed a message" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of sending or sharing a message to multiple recipients or platforms. Example: "The organization distributed a message to all employees regarding the upcoming changes in policy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

FILM: WELLESLEY REACTS -- Responding to criticism and other comments in e-mail messages, letters and phone calls from concerned alumnae reacting to the film "Mona Lisa Smile," the president of Wellesley College has distributed a message to help them "to set the record straight".

The New York Times

Using email addresses provided to us by the Transplant Games organizers, we electronically distributed a message on July 20 to attendees (including athletes and spectators), requesting that they complete an outbreak survey.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

What's more, a political operative can pretend to be a nobody to distribute a message that might be unfit for the airwaves.

Forbes

On the eve of a crucial Senate vote on health care legislation, the Obama administration on Friday distributed a bipartisan message of support from Tommy G. Thompson, a Republican who served as health secretary to President George W. Bush, and Richard A. Gephardt, a former Democratic leader of the House.

The New York Times

President Hamid Karzai spoke a day after Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar distributed a holiday message of his own, saying that insurgents plan to increase operations nationwide and denying once again any efforts at rapprochement with the Afghan government.

Huffington Post

The telecom companies would also be able to control any content they chose, as when Verizon refused to distribute a text message alert from NARAL Pro Choice America and AT&T muted singer Eddie Vedder's criticism of President Bush during a live Pearl Jam webcast.

Huffington Post

Revenues will eventually come from 'sponsored brags' created by brands which want to distribute a marketing message in a fun way, and they are looking to license a white label version of the platform.

TechCrunch

To break that down, CareZone's new broadcast product basically lets users quickly distribute a voice message to others in their care network, allowing them to select up to 100 people from their CareZone or iPhone contact lists, and record and update messages — after which CareZone shows them a status page which makes it clear who has received the message and who hasn't.

TechCrunch

So it was with some glee yesterday that the city teachers' union distributed a Department of Education e-mail message giving the details of an overnight retreat the city is holding for the parent coordinators who work in each school -- in Ossining, in Westchester County.

The New York Times

The Cardinals also distributed an e-mail message to fans on their ticket lists to announce the free game.

The New York Times - Sports

This week Jack Oliver, the Republicans' deputy national chairman, distributed an e-mail message that encouraged recipients to sign "our online petition in support of President Bush and the war on terrorism".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "distributed a message" when you want to emphasize the act of spreading information widely among a specific group or audience. Be mindful of the context to choose the most appropriate synonym for "message", such as "notice", "statement", or "bulletin".

Common error

Avoid using "distributed" in very informal contexts where simpler alternatives like "sent" or "shared" would be more natural. For instance, saying "I distributed a message to my friends" might sound overly formal; instead, opt for "I sent a message to my friends."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "distributed a message" functions as a verb phrase where "distributed" is the verb in past tense and "a message" is the direct object. It describes the action of spreading or sending a piece of information to multiple recipients. Ludwig provides examples where it's used in both formal and informal contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "distributed a message" is a versatile phrase used to describe the act of spreading information to multiple recipients. According to Ludwig, it is considered grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, especially neutral to formal ones. While generally appropriate, it's essential to consider simpler alternatives like "sent" or "shared" in more casual settings. The choice between "distributed a message" and "sent a message" often hinges on the scope and formality of the communication. The sources indicate its use in news, media, and scientific contexts, which points to a more professional usage. Understanding the subtleties can enhance the clarity and effectiveness of your communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

disseminated a communication

Replaces "message" with "communication" and "distributed" with "disseminated", emphasizing a broader sense of spreading information.

circulated a notice

Substitutes "message" with "notice" and "distributed" with "circulated", indicating a more formal or official announcement.

issued a statement

Replaces "message" with "statement" and "distributed" with "issued", suggesting a formal declaration or announcement.

broadcast a report

Changes "message" to "report" and "distributed" to "broadcast", implying a wide and public dissemination of information.

sent out a bulletin

Replaces "distributed" with "sent out" and "message" with "bulletin", suggesting a brief announcement to a specific group.

conveyed an announcement

Changes "message" to "announcement" and "distributed" to "conveyed", emphasizing the act of communicating information.

transmitted an advisory

Substitutes "message" with "advisory" and "distributed" with "transmitted", indicating the sending of important advice or warning.

propagated an idea

Replaces "message" with "idea" and "distributed" with "propagated", focusing on the spread of a concept or belief.

released an update

Changes "message" to "update" and "distributed" to "released", implying the sharing of new or revised information.

published a communication

Replaces "distributed" with "published" and "message" with "communication", emphasizing the formal release of information to the public.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "distributed a message"?

You can use alternatives like "issued a statement", "circulated a notice", or "sent out a bulletin" depending on the context.

How do I use "distributed a message" in a sentence?

"Distributed a message" is used to describe the act of sending information to multiple recipients. For example, "The company distributed a message to all employees regarding the new health benefits."

Is "distributed a message" formal or informal?

"Distributed a message" is generally considered a neutral to formal phrase. Simpler alternatives like "sent a message" might be preferred in informal contexts.

What's the difference between "distributed a message" and "sent a message"?

"Distributed a message" often implies a wider dissemination to a larger group, whereas "sent a message" can refer to a single recipient or a smaller group.