he was enlisted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he was enlisted" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone has joined the military or armed forces, typically as a formal process. Example: "After graduating from high school, he was enlisted in the army and began his training immediately."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

He was enlisted to approve the architectural plans for the houses that would be built here.

The New York Times

On Heckstall-Smith's recommendation, he was enlisted into Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated.

The Guardian - Music

First he was enlisted to sing at the Sept. 23 interfaith service held at Yankee Stadium.

The New York Times

That is seen as a possible clue that he was enlisted as an Indian agent.

The New York Times

Last year, he was enlisted by Michelle Obama to put together the last state dinner of the Obama presidency.

The New York Times - Food

In fact, documents found in his headquarters appear to show he was enlisted by President George W. Bush's administration to interrogate suspects under a rendition program.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

Eventually, he was enlisting friends to tow him with their motorcycles so that he could generate enough speed to ascend the rickety towers, above which he'd placed measuring sticks, for gauging amplitude.

The New Yorker

If it barely imports that he was enlisting or engaging them in his service, the fact would not amount to levying war.

University of Chicago

By the time the song's over, he's enlisted and off to Iraq.

The New York Times

Here he is enlisted by the United States president (Charlie Sheen, credited by his real name, Carlos Estevez) to forestall catastrophe.

The New York Times

In the last few weeks, he's enlisted an apprentice: his younger brother, Dan, who handles the iPod Touch touch-ups.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "he was enlisted", ensure the context clearly indicates the organization, cause, or activity the person joined. For example, "He was enlisted in the army" or "He was enlisted to help with the project."

Common error

Avoid using "he was enlisted by himself", as the passive voice already implies an external actor doing the enlisting. The addition of "by himself" creates redundancy and grammatical awkwardness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was enlisted" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject received the action of being enrolled or recruited. As Ludwig AI confirms, the structure is grammatically sound and widely accepted.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he was enlisted" is a grammatically correct and commonly used passive voice construction. It describes a situation where someone has been officially enrolled or recruited into an organization, activity, or cause. As Ludwig AI validates, the phrase is suitable for a variety of contexts, from News & Media to Academic writing. While "he was enlisted" is quite versatile, be sure to consider alternatives like "he was recruited" or "he joined" to ensure the most precise expression for your intended meaning. It is important to avoid redundant constructions like "he was enlisted by himself".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he was recruited

Similar meaning, but emphasizes the active role of recruitment.

he was drafted

Implies a mandatory enlistment, often for military service.

he was signed up

Suggests a voluntary agreement to join or participate.

he was enrolled

Focuses on the act of being officially registered in a group or organization.

he was inducted

Suggests a formal ceremony or process of being admitted.

he was appointed

Highlights the act of being officially chosen for a position.

he was commissioned

Implies being granted authority or a specific task.

he was selected

Focuses on the act of being chosen from a larger group.

he was engaged

Suggests involvement or participation in a particular activity.

he was brought in

Indicates being invited or hired to contribute expertise.

FAQs

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

Use "he was enlisted" to indicate someone was officially enrolled or recruited into a group, organization, or activity. Example: "He was enlisted by the company to lead the new project."

What are some alternatives to saying "he was enlisted"?

You can use alternatives like "he was recruited", "he was drafted", or "he was signed up" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "he enlisted" instead of "he was enlisted"?

Yes, "he enlisted" is the active voice form and is also correct. It emphasizes the subject's action, while "he was enlisted" in passive voice emphasizes the action being done to the subject.

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

"He was enlisted" implies an official recruitment or enrollment, while "he volunteered" indicates that he offered his services or joined willingly without being formally recruited.