guidance was given

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "guidance was given" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to indicate that advice or direction has been provided to someone. Example: "After the meeting, it was clear that guidance was given to the team on how to proceed with the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

No further guidance was given on what will be discussed.

The New York Times

This "administrative guidance" was given partly informally, partly through bureaucratic control of the access to capital, partly through regulation.

The Economist

Exactly what guidance was given to British agents regarding torture after September 11th 2001 is still unclear.

The Economist

There, burning legal problems were informally discussed, and guidance was given to all concerning the decisions of actual or likely cases.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The change that Oracle put in place with its quarterly earnings announcement last month makes clear how "guidance" was given to analysts privately in the past and how that practice will change.

The New York Times

Gallery is less positive about the developments that occurred beyond Penn's grid, where no guidance was given to settlers and roads radiated out from the hub like spokes on a wheel.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Considerable additional visual guidance is given to pilots by painted markings on the runway.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Guidance is given for designing steam drums.

Rules of Thumb for Chemical Engineers

Guidance is given for selecting heat transfer fluids (HTF).

Rules of Thumb for Chemical Engineers

Instead guidance is given on general construction methods by means of three examples.

Food Quality and Preference

Guidance is given on the practicalities of deriving recommendations from these types of studies.

Journal of Hazardous Materials

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "guidance was given", ensure the context clearly indicates who received the guidance. If the source of guidance is important, consider rephrasing to active voice (e.g. "The instructor gave guidance").

Common error

Avoid using "guidance was given" without specifying to whom the guidance was directed. For example, instead of saying "guidance was given", specify "guidance was given to the new employees" for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "guidance was given" functions as a passive construction where the emphasis is on the action of providing guidance rather than the actor. Ludwig AI confirms that it indicates that advice or direction was provided. It is often used to convey information in a formal or official manner.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

32%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "guidance was given" is a grammatically correct passive construction used to convey that advice or direction was provided. As Ludwig AI confirms, its neutral register makes it suitable for diverse contexts, including news reports, scientific articles, and formal communications, with a slightly higher prevalence in scientific and news-related sources. While it is not extremely common, it remains a useful way to emphasize the reception of guidance. When using the phrase, clarity regarding the recipient is important. Alternatives include "direction was provided" or "advice was offered", depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

direction was provided

Replaces "guidance" with "direction" and "given" with "provided", offering a similar meaning.

advice was offered

Substitutes "guidance" with "advice" and "given" with "offered", focusing on counsel rather than general direction.

instructions were issued

Emphasizes a more formal and possibly mandatory form of guidance.

recommendations were made

Focuses on suggestions or endorsements rather than direct guidance.

support was extended

Highlights the supportive aspect of guidance, implying assistance.

clarification was supplied

Implies the guidance was to resolve ambiguity or misunderstanding.

counsel was imparted

Replaces "guidance" with "counsel" suggesting a more advisory and thoughtful approach.

input was furnished

Focuses on the contribution of information as a form of guidance.

leadership was shown

Highlights that the guidance stemmed from a position of leadership.

a helping hand was offered

Emphasizes the supportive and practical nature of the guidance.

FAQs

How can I use "guidance was given" in a sentence?

Use "guidance was given" to indicate that advice or direction was provided, especially when the receiver of the guidance is the focus. For example, "After the incident, "guidance was given" to the affected families".

What are some alternatives to "guidance was given"?

You can use alternatives like "direction was provided", "advice was offered", or "instructions were issued" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "guidance"?

It depends on the context. "Guidance was given" (passive) emphasizes the recipient of the guidance. An active construction like "The team leader gave guidance" emphasizes the giver of the guidance.

What is the difference between "guidance was given" and "guidance is given"?

"Guidance was given" indicates that guidance was provided at a specific point in the past. "Guidance is given" suggests that guidance is routinely or habitually provided.