election was held

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "election was held" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It can be used to describe a past event in which an election took place. Example: "The national election was held on November 3rd, with millions of voters casting their ballots for the next president."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

A regular congressional election was held on the same day to elect three Indiana congressmen.

Wikipedia

A new election was held November 16.

Encyclopedia Britannica

An election was held in 1992.

The Economist

The election was held Jan.

The New York Times

The election was held Tuesday.

The New York Times

The election was held July 18 , 2009

Stanford University

A legislative election was held in February 1938.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

The by-election was held following the death of SNP councillor Alex McLean.

BBC

The 2014 Cowdenbeath by-election was held following the death of Labour MSP Helen Eadie.

Wikipedia

(No election was held: Chacon was proclaimed the winner).

Los Angeles Times

The first Polish royal election was held in 1573.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing an election, specify the type of election (presidential, general, special) to provide context and clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "election was held" without specifying which election you are referring to. For example, instead of "The election was held", specify "The presidential election was held in November".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "election was held" functions as a statement of fact, indicating that an election event occurred in the past. This is supported by Ludwig AI, and numerous examples show it used to report past electoral events across different contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Encyclopedias

25%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

15%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "election was held" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to indicate that an election has taken place. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread use across diverse sources. It serves the function of reporting a past event and is commonly found in news reports, encyclopedias, and academic articles. While its register is generally neutral, it is important to provide context by specifying the type and date of the election for clarity. Related phrases like "an election took place" offer alternative ways to convey the same information, as showed by Ludwig's examples.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an election took place

Replaces the passive voice construction with an active one, emphasizing the occurrence of the election.

the election occurred

Substitutes "was held" with the verb "occurred", directly stating that the election happened.

the election transpired

Replaces "was held" with the more formal verb "transpired", indicating that the election unfolded or happened.

the vote occurred

Similar to "election occurred", but specifies the 'vote' itself.

voting took place

Focuses on the act of voting as the central event, rather than the broader election process.

the election unfolded

Highlights the progression of the election events.

the electoral process unfolded

Focuses on the complete process of the election, implying a series of events.

an electoral contest occurred

Replaces "election" with "electoral contest" offering a more formal tone.

the polls were open

Emphasizes the availability of voting, suggesting that an election was in progress.

citizens cast their ballots

Shifts focus to the action of citizens participating in the election process.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "election was held" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "an election took place" or "the election occurred".

What's a more concise way to say "election was held"?

A more concise option is "voting took place", focusing on the act of voting itself.

Is it correct to say "elections were held"?

Yes, "elections were held" is the correct plural form if you're referring to multiple elections. The singular form is "election was held".

What's the difference between "election was held" and "election was conducted"?

While similar, "election was held" simply states that the election occurred. "Election was conducted" implies a process of organizing and managing the election.