he was designated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he was designated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to someone being officially assigned to a specific role or position. Example: "After a thorough selection process, he was designated as the new project manager."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Architect Arthur Erickson celebrated Francisco Kripacz's award from Interiors magazine (he was designated Designer of the Year) with a chic little reception last week.

Los Angeles Times

Shortly after, he was designated for assignment.

The New York Times - Sports

He was designated the Olympic team captain.

The New York Times - Sports

After the game, he was designated for assignment.

The New York Times - Sports

He was designated a Walter Channing Cabot Fellow at Harvard University for 2009-10.

Harvard University

In 1998 he was designated principal guest conductor of the New York Philharmonic.

The New York Times - Arts

He was designated last year to take over religious leadership of the church.

The New York Times

Two days later, he was designated for assignment and right-hander Carlos Torres was called up.

The Washington Post

After two years of flight training, he was designated a naval aviator in March 1960.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Upon the accession of his father to the English throne he was designated prince of Wales.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He was designated by his family to accompany his wife, a sister and seven children.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he was designated" when emphasizing the formal or official nature of an appointment or assignment.

Common error

Avoid using "he was designated" in informal contexts where simpler alternatives like "he was chosen" or "he was picked" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was designated" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject received the action of being appointed or assigned. This construction is commonly used to emphasize the role or position someone has been given. As per Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Academia

19%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "he was designated" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase for indicating an official appointment or assignment. Ludwig's analysis reveals that it is most commonly found in news articles, academic papers, and encyclopedias, suggesting a neutral to formal register. When writing, ensure that its level of formality fits the overall tone of your piece, and consider alternatives like "he was appointed" or "he was chosen" for less formal contexts. Overall, this expression enjoys widespread acceptance and utility in various writing contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he was appointed

Focuses on the act of being officially chosen or assigned to a role.

he was named

Emphasizes the act of publicly announcing his selection for a position.

he was selected

Highlights the process of choosing him from a group of candidates.

he was chosen

Similar to 'selected' but can imply a more personal or preferential choice.

he was assigned

Indicates a task or duty was given to him, often within an organization.

he was made

Suggests the act of creating or establishing him in a particular role.

he was crowned

Implies a formal and often ceremonial investiture, typically for leadership roles.

he was installed

Often used for formal introductions into an office or position.

he was tapped

Suggests a discreet or behind-the-scenes selection process.

he was commissioned

Implies a formal authorization or instruction to perform a specific duty.

FAQs

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

Use "he was designated" to indicate that someone has been officially chosen or appointed to a specific role or position. For example, "He was designated team captain after his outstanding performance".

What can I say instead of "he was designated"?

You can use alternatives like "he was appointed", "he was named", or "he was chosen" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "he was designate" instead of "he was designated"?

No, "he was designate" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is "he was designated", which uses the past participle of the verb 'designate'.

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

"He was designated" often implies a more formal or official appointment, while "he was assigned" suggests a task or duty was given to him.