everyone was asked

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "everyone was asked" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a situation where a request or question was directed to all individuals in a group. Example: "At the meeting, everyone was asked to share their thoughts on the new policy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

Everyone was asked to raise their newly made wands and chant the Incendio spell.

Princeton University

Everyone was asked to talk about his or her role in the episode.

The New York Times

At one point, everyone was asked to sing the new European national anthem to the tune of "Ode to Joy".

The New York Times

Everyone was asked to contribute ideas for the ad, but ultimately the group had to decide on only one.

The Economist

When the hour for prayer arrived, everyone was asked to turn off televisions so as not to disturb the faithful.

The Washington Post

Everyone was asked to grab a glass of Champagne and head to the roof for a group toast.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

"Within 10 minutes, everyone was asking me.

The New York Times

Everyone was asking the same questions.

The Guardian

Everyone was asking one another what the score would be.

The New York Times - Sports

"After the attacks last month, everyone was asking 'Why Paris?'.

Independent

Everyone was asking, 'Where's Max?' I covered for him.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "everyone was asked" to introduce a common action or inquiry directed towards a defined group to maintain a consistent tone and style.

Common error

Avoid overuse of the passive voice. While "everyone was asked" is grammatically correct, actively framing the sentence (e.g., "The facilitator asked everyone") can make your writing more direct and engaging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "everyone was asked" functions as a passive construction, indicating that all members of a group were recipients of a question or request. This usage aligns with Ludwig's finding that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

12%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Science

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "everyone was asked" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction, as validated by Ludwig AI. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts, and serves to communicate a request or question directed towards a group. While versatile, writers should be mindful of potential overuse of the passive voice and consider active alternatives for greater directness. The phrase enjoys consistent usage and can be reliably employed across a range of professional and academic settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

everyone was requested

Substitutes "asked" with "requested", emphasizing a more formal or official appeal.

everyone was called upon

Indicates a formal request or expectation to contribute.

all participants were asked

Specifies "all participants" to ensure clarity about the scope of the group being addressed.

the attendees were asked

Uses "attendees" to identify a specific group of people in a formal setting.

everyone was invited to

Replaces "asked" with "invited to", shifting the nuance to a welcoming or encouraging gesture.

members were asked

Refers to a group of individuals belonging to a specific organization or community.

each person was asked

Emphasizes individual questioning within a larger group.

everyone was polled

Replaces "asked" with "polled", suggesting a systematic collection of opinions.

each individual was prompted

Uses "prompted" to highlight a guided or stimulated response.

everyone received a question

Focuses on the act of receiving a query rather than explicitly being "asked".

FAQs

How can I use "everyone was asked" in a sentence?

You can use "everyone was asked" to indicate that a question or request was directed to all members of a group. For example, "At the meeting, everyone was asked to share their ideas".

What are some alternatives to "everyone was asked"?

Alternatives include "everyone was requested", "everyone was invited to", or "all participants were asked", depending on the context.

Is it better to use the active or passive voice when saying "everyone was asked"?

While "everyone was asked" is grammatically correct in the passive voice, using the active voice (e.g., "The teacher asked everyone") can sometimes make your writing more direct and engaging.

What is the difference between "everyone was asked" and "everyone was told"?

"Everyone was asked" implies a request or inquiry, while "everyone was told" implies an instruction or piece of information being conveyed. For example, "Everyone was asked for their opinion" versus "Everyone was told to be quiet".