he was indicated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he was indicated" is not correct in standard written English.
It is likely intended to convey that someone was pointed out or identified, but the verb "indicate" is not typically used in the passive voice in this context. Example: "During the meeting, he was indicated as the lead on the project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Evie Dennis, a member of the U.S.O.C. evaluation task force that assessed the capabilities of the cities in the host sweepstakes, said, "The fact that Billy Crystal was there live and Giuliani was brought in from wherever he was indicated to me that it would persuade undecideds".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

By that, he was indicating that the club are prepared to wait until next summer.

The Guardian - Sport

He was indicating before anyone even asked that Iraq would be, for him, an adventure too far.

The New York Times

He was indicating that war would not be a rash decision on his part, while he was capable of recognizing the inevitable necessity of genocide.

The New York Times

Remo couldn't actually have had a schoolmaster's pointer, yet he was indicating with enough formality to suggest one: labia majora, labia minora, mons pubis, clitoris.

The New Yorker

In the programme notes for this game he was indicating that he was likely to see out the remaining 18 months of his deal before becoming available for England, promising: "I in tend to see my contract out here.

The Guardian - Sport

Beyond its implicit threat of violence against the president and African Americans, he was indicating that black people are not part of "real America".

Huffington Post

Comey said those were the words he "needed to hear" and that even though Obama wasn't necessarily saying he agreed with Comey's decisions, he was indicating he knew where they came from.

Huffington Post

My call to the Department of Justice, to Michael Chertoff's office, in early July 2002 to make a final attempt to ask that an interview of Moussaoui be conducted (as he was indicating he might talk), also fell on deaf ears.

Huffington Post

"He's indicated his appreciation".

The New York Times - Sports

Since reporting to the three-week instructional league in Port St Lucie, he's indicated the higher incidence of concussions in football influenced his decision to turn to baseball.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using the passive voice construction "he was indicated", opt for more direct and commonly accepted alternatives like "he was identified" or "he was pointed out" to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using "he was indicated" when you mean to say someone was identified or specified. This phrasing is uncommon and can sound unnatural. Choose stronger, more direct verbs to improve your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was indicated" is a passive construction where "he" is the recipient of the action. While grammatically structured as a passive sentence, it's not a typical usage. As Ludwig AI points out, more common alternatives exist to express the idea of identification or specification more clearly.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while grammatically understandable, the phrase "he was indicated" is generally discouraged in favor of more direct and common alternatives like "he was identified" or "he was pointed out". As Ludwig AI highlights, the phrase is uncommon and can sound awkward, even in neutral or formal contexts. The infrequent usage and availability of clearer alternatives suggest avoiding this phrase in most writing scenarios to ensure clarity and naturalness. Relying on Ludwig's examples of more suitable sentence structures leads to improved communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he was identified

Replaces "indicated" with a more direct and common term for specifying someone's identity.

he was pointed out

Suggests a more explicit act of directing attention to someone.

he was named

Implies a formal act of selection or designation.

he was selected

Focuses on the choice of a specific person for a role or purpose.

he was chosen

Similar to "selected", but can also imply a more informal process.

he was designated

Highlights the official assignment of a role or title.

it was indicated that he was

Adds extra wordiness but it's more common.

he was understood to be

Shifts the focus to an implied understanding or assumption.

he was shown to be

Indicates that evidence or proof was presented regarding his identity or role.

he was marked as

This indicates a type of 'labelling', where he has been noted as a part of something.

FAQs

What is a better alternative to "he was indicated"?

More common and natural alternatives include "he was identified", "he was pointed out", or "he was named", depending on the intended meaning.

Is the phrase "he was indicated" grammatically correct?

While not strictly ungrammatical, the phrase "he was indicated" is considered awkward and uncommon in standard English. It's better to use clearer alternatives.

When is it appropriate to use "he was indicated"?

It's rarely the best choice. There are almost always clearer and more natural ways to express the intended meaning using alternative phrasings.

What does "he was indicated" mean?

The intended meaning is usually that someone was identified, specified, or pointed out in some way. However, the phrasing is indirect and not commonly used.