he was faced with a

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he was faced with a" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation in which someone is presented with a problem or challenge. For example: - "John was faced with a difficult decision - he had to choose between staying at his current job or accepting a new offer." - "After years of struggling, Jane was finally faced with a solution to her financial problems." - "The superhero was faced with a powerful villain who threatened to destroy the city."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Now he was faced with a much larger task.

The New York Times - Arts

Just recently he was faced with a problem.

The Guardian - Books

He was faced with a reported 200 cases of flu and 48 cases of pneumonia.

Columbia University

Instead, he was faced with a single question: How did you do it?

The New York Times

In the summer of 1925, however, he was faced with a new crisis.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"He was faced with a very genuine dilemma," said the QC.

The Guardian

Mr. Schumacher was grateful, but he was faced with a quandary.

The New York Times

Like Eden over Suez, he was faced with a monumental challenge.

The Guardian - Business

Now he was faced with a choice: would he use his invisibility for good or evil?

The New York Times - Magazine

In the west, where Alp-Arslan was to gain all his glory, he was faced with a more complicated situation.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

He was faced with an impossible task.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he was faced with a" to introduce a problem, dilemma, or choice that someone had to deal with. This phrase is effective in narrative writing to highlight a character's challenges.

Common error

Avoid overusing passive voice constructions like "he was faced with a" throughout your writing. While grammatically correct, too much passive voice can make your writing sound weak and indirect. Vary your sentence structure for a more engaging style.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was faced with a" functions as a verbal phrase introducing a situation or challenge someone had to address. It sets the stage for describing a problem or dilemma and emphasizes the experience of dealing with it. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Encyclopedias

16%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

3%

Science

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "he was faced with a" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to introduce a challenging situation or decision. As Ludwig AI indicates, it’s widely accepted and used across various contexts, primarily in news, encyclopedias, and academic writing. While versatile, it's good to balance its use with more direct, active alternatives to avoid passive voice overuse. The phrase functions to narrate events where someone encounters a difficulty, setting the stage for explaining their actions or decisions. Remember that context is crucial to determine the best choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he was presented with a

Focuses on the act of something being offered or given to him, such as an opportunity or challenge.

he encountered a situation where

Replaces "faced with" with "encountered", focusing on the act of coming across a situation.

he was confronted by a

Suggests a more direct and potentially hostile encounter.

he found himself in a position to

Emphasizes the resulting state of being in a certain situation, instead of the act of facing something.

he had to contend with a

Highlights the need to manage or overcome a challenge, changing the focus slightly.

he came up against a

Suggests a collision or opposition with a problem or obstacle.

he had to grapple with a

Implies a struggle or difficulty in dealing with something.

he experienced a situation where

Focuses on the experience of the situation instead of confronting it.

he had before him a

Changes the sentence structure to emphasize what lies ahead.

a challenge arose for him

Inverts the sentence to focus on the challenge itself, rather than the person.

FAQs

How can I use "he was faced with a" in a sentence?

The phrase "he was faced with a" is used to indicate that someone encountered a challenge, dilemma, or difficult situation. For instance, "After losing his job, "he was faced with a" tough decision about his family's future".

What's a more direct alternative to "he was faced with a"?

While "he was faced with a" is perfectly acceptable, you could use a more direct construction depending on the context. Consider alternatives like "he confronted", "he encountered", or "he had to deal with" for a more active voice.

Is "he was faced with a" formal or informal?

The phrase "he was faced with a" is suitable for both formal and informal writing. Its neutrality allows for versatility in various contexts, from academic papers to news articles.

What's the difference between "he was faced with a" and "he faced"?

"He faced" is a more direct and active construction, whereas "he was faced with a" is passive and emphasizes the situation or challenge presented to him. For example, "He faced the challenge" is more concise than ""he was faced with a" challenge".