he was recognized

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "He was recognized" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which someone received acknowledgement, either publicly or privately, from other people. For example: "When he received the Nobel Prize for Chemistry, he was recognized as one of the top scientists of his generation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Occasionally he was recognized by respectful fans.

The New York Times - Arts

Occasionally he was recognized while doing police work.

The New York Times

In addition, he was recognized as an astute clinical researcher.

The New York Times

He was recognized everywhere, and all called him very sly.

The New York Times

Recently, he said, he was recognized at a Staples.

The New Yorker

He was recognized and chased from the salon.

The New York Times

He was recognized everywhere he went, particularly in El Paso.

The New York Times - Magazine

He was recognized for 35 years of service by NYU.

The New York Times

He was recognized in neither place, except by a handful of fellow-Americans.

The New Yorker

He was recognized by a cop who remarked to Stanley about how Mr. Hoover looked.

The New Yorker

He was recognized for his work in economic geography and in identifying international trade patterns.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Vary your sentence structure by using active voice alternatives where appropriate, such as "people recognized him", to make your writing more dynamic and engaging.

Common error

Avoid overuse of passive constructions like "he was recognized" if the active voice provides a clearer or more direct meaning. Using the active voice will specify who did the recognizing, adding clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was recognized" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject received recognition or acknowledgement from an unspecified agent. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's a common expression used across various contexts to denote identification or commendation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Encyclopedias

29%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

11%

Huffington Post

8%

TechCrunch

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "he was recognized" is a grammatically correct and commonly used passive construction that signifies acknowledgement or identification. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase appears frequently across diverse sources, including News & Media, Encyclopedias, and Wikipedia. While versatile, it's essential to provide context regarding by whom or for what the person was recognized. Consider active voice alternatives for clearer communication and vary sentence structure to engage the audience effectively. Common alternatives include "he was identified", "he was acknowledged", and "he was celebrated", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he was identified

Focuses on the act of pinpointing someone's identity.

he was acknowledged

Emphasizes that his presence or work was formally recognized.

he was celebrated

Indicates a higher degree of recognition, often with public praise.

he was honored

Suggests formal recognition with an award or ceremony.

he was distinguished

Highlights that he stood out among others and received recognition for that.

he gained recognition

Highlights the process of becoming recognized.

he was famed

Suggests widespread fame and acknowledgement.

he was accredited

Focuses on formal recognition, often within professional or academic fields.

he was spotted

Focuses on visually identifying someone, often unexpectedly.

he was greeted

Indicates a welcome or acknowledgement upon arrival or appearance.

FAQs

What does "he was recognized" mean?

The phrase "he was recognized" means that someone identified him or acknowledged his presence, status, or achievements. This can happen in various contexts, such as being identified in a crowd or receiving recognition for an award.

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

You can use alternatives like "he was identified", "he was acknowledged", or "he was celebrated" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "he was recognized" or "people recognized him"?

It depends on the context. "He was recognized" is passive and emphasizes the recipient of the action, while "people recognized him" is active and emphasizes the actors. Choose the one that best fits the focus of your sentence.

How is "he was recognized" different from "he became recognized"?

"He was recognized" implies a specific instance of recognition. "He became recognized" suggests a gradual process of gaining recognition over time, implying a change in status or reputation.