he was assigned

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'he was assigned' is correct and can be used in written English.
You might use it in a sentence such as "He was assigned a difficult task, but he worked hard to complete it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

The tiny space he was assigned to work in "was extremely crowded".

Vice

He was assigned a dorm room.

The New Yorker

He was assigned to kitchen duty.

The New York Times

He was assigned to the police beat.

The New Yorker

He was assigned to the medical team.

The Guardian

He was assigned to the patrol division.

The New York Times

He was assigned to the C.I.A. instead.

The New York Times

He was assigned to the writers project.

The New Yorker

He was assigned the Hewlett-Packard case by chance.

The New York Times

This was when he was assigned to the M20 line.

The New York Times

On Sept. 11, he was assigned to Flight 175.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "he was assigned", ensure the context clearly indicates who made the assignment. Providing this context enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "he was assigned" without specifying the context or authority responsible for the assignment. For instance, instead of "He was assigned to the project", specify "The manager assigned him to the project" for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was assigned" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject received a task, duty, or role from an external source. As shown in the examples Ludwig provides, it's commonly used in news reports and encyclopedic entries to describe job assignments or military postings.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Wiki

16%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Science

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he was assigned" is a grammatically correct and very common passive construction used to indicate that an individual has been given a specific task, duty, or role. According to Ludwig, its usage spans various contexts, including news, encyclopedias, and general writing. Predominantly found in news and media, this phrase effectively conveys the allocation of responsibility from an external authority, maintaining a generally neutral register. When using this phrase, it's advisable to provide context about who made the assignment to enhance clarity. Alternative phrases include "he was designated", "he was given the task", or "he was appointed", depending on the nuances you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he received the assignment

Focuses on the act of receiving rather than the imposition of the task.

he was given the task

Emphasizes the act of giving a task to someone.

he was designated to

Highlights the official selection for a specific role or purpose.

he was appointed to

Implies a more formal or official selection, often for a position of authority.

he was detailed to

Suggests a specific, often temporary, assignment within a structured organization.

he was entrusted with

Focuses on the aspect of trust and responsibility given to the individual.

he had the duty to

Highlights the obligatory nature of the task given.

he was tasked with

Emphasizes that a specific task or duty was given to him.

he was commissioned to

Implies a formal request or order to carry out a specific task or project.

he was directed to

Highlights that the person received an instruction to perform an action.

FAQs

How can I use "he was assigned" in a sentence?

Use "he was assigned" to indicate that someone was given a specific task, duty, or role. For example, "He was assigned to the marketing team" shows his new role.

What are some alternatives to "he was assigned"?

Alternatives include "he was designated", "he was given the task", or "he was appointed", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "he was assigned" or "he got assigned"?

"He was assigned" is grammatically standard and generally preferred in formal contexts. "He got assigned" is more informal but still acceptable in casual conversation.

What's the difference between "he was assigned" and "he volunteered"?

"He was assigned" implies that the task or role was given to him, often without his choice, while "he volunteered" means he offered to do it willingly.