he was required

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he was required" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone had an obligation or necessity to do something in the past. Example: "He was required to submit the report by the end of the week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He was required to manipulate and deceive.

The Guardian

For one thing, he was required to do "SexyBack".

The New York Times

But the demand was for records beyond the records that he was required to keep.

Cornell University

The prime minister denies he was required to declare an interest.

The Guardian

The standards he was required to uphold were those of a parliamentarian.

The Guardian

When Mr. Rosen signed the lease he was required to refurbish the building's crumbling facade.

The New York Times

The prime minister also denies he was required to declare an interest.

The Guardian

While he was required to consider the sentencing recommendations, he was not bound by them.

The Washington Post

However, he was required to leave Virginia within eight hours and not return for five years.

The Washington Post

Under his county contract, he was required to give the board 120 days written notice.

The Washington Post

Yet he could be movingly sincere when he was required to emote in public.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When precision matters in legal or formal contexts, use "he was required" over alternatives that might imply a suggestion or expectation rather than a hard rule.

Common error

Avoid using "he was required" when simply indicating a suggestion or preference. Use alternative phrasing like "he was advised to" or "it was recommended that he" to prevent misrepresenting the strength of the obligation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was required" functions as a passive construction indicating obligation or necessity imposed upon an individual. Ludwig examples illustrate its usage in various contexts, from legal requirements to job responsibilities. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Academia

21%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Science

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he was required" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote a past obligation or necessity. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's commonly found in news and academic contexts. While alternatives like "he was obliged" or "he was compelled" exist, choosing the most appropriate phrasing depends on the specific context and the desired emphasis. Remember to differentiate between requirements and mere suggestions to ensure clarity and avoid misinterpretation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he was obliged

Uses 'obliged' instead of 'required', conveying a similar sense of duty.

he was compelled

Emphasizes a stronger, more forceful sense of necessity compared to 'required'.

he had a duty to

Replaces the passive construction with an active one, focusing on the subject's responsibility.

it was mandatory for him

Shifts the focus to the action being mandatory rather than the person being required.

it was his responsibility

Highlights the accountability associated with the required action.

he needed to

Expresses a general need to perform an action, which may not always imply a formal requirement.

he was bound to

Suggests a contractual or moral obligation.

he was under an obligation

Formal and explicit about the existing duty.

he was expected to

Implies a social or professional expectation, which may be less stringent than a requirement.

he was supposed to

Suggests a plan or agreement was in place, less forceful than being strictly required.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "he was required to"?

You can use alternatives like "he was obliged to", "he was compelled to", or "it was mandatory for him to" depending on the context.

How to use "he was required" in a sentence?

Use "he was required" to indicate that someone had a formal obligation or necessity to do something. For example: "He was required to submit the report by the end of the week" or "He was required to attend the meeting".

Which is correct, "he was required to" or "he is required to"?

Both are correct but have different meanings. "He was required to" indicates a past obligation, while "he is required to" indicates a present or ongoing obligation.

What is the difference between "he was required to" and "he was expected to"?

"He was required to" implies a formal obligation or rule, while "he was expected to" implies a social or professional expectation that may be less strict.