he was stationed

USAGE SUMMARY

"he was stationed" is correct and can be used in written English.
It can be used when someone has been assigned to a particular place or job, usually in the context of the military or another organisation. For example: George was stationed in Germany for three years while in the army.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Until September he was stationed in Afghanistan.

The New York Times

He hated Georgia where he was stationed.

The New Yorker

He was stationed in Egypt.

The Guardian - Books

He was stationed in Okinawa and China.

The New York Times

He was stationed, for a time, on a Pacific island.

The New Yorker

JASON ZINOMAN We lived where he was stationed.

The New York Times

He was stationed at Le Bourget, near Paris.

The New York Times - Arts

He was stationed on the USS Argonne in the Pacific.

The New York Times

Karsay did not know where he was stationed that day.

The New York Times - Sports

(He was stationed at Fort Hamilton, across the street).

The New Yorker

After the war, he was stationed in Hawaii.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he was stationed" when referring to a formal assignment, especially in military or organizational contexts. It clearly communicates that the person was officially placed at a specific location for duty or work.

Common error

Do not use "he was stationed" when a more specific term like "worked", "lived", or "visited" would be more appropriate. Overusing "stationed" can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or militaristic when a simpler word would suffice.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was stationed" functions as a passive verb construction, indicating that the subject (he) received the action of being stationed. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and used to describe someone being officially assigned to a particular place or duty. Ludwig provides several examples illustrating this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

20%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "he was stationed" is a grammatically sound and widely used phrase to denote that someone was officially assigned to a specific location. As Ludwig AI validates, it is frequently encountered in contexts such as news reports, encyclopedias, and historical accounts. Its neutral register and common usage make it suitable for various types of formal communication. When writing, be mindful of the specific context and choose more descriptive words where needed, but be confident that "he was stationed" is a reliable way to communicate formal assignment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he was posted

Replaces "stationed" with "posted", emphasizing assignment to a location.

he was assigned

Focuses on the act of assigning someone to a specific place or duty.

he served at

Highlights the service performed at a particular location.

he was based

Indicates that a location was the primary operational center for the person.

he was deployed

Specifically used in military contexts, indicating a formal deployment to a location.

his duty station was

Specifies the location as a duty station.

he occupied a post

Emphasizes the formal occupation of a position or location.

he held a position at

Focuses on the position held at a specific place.

he resided while serving

Combines residence and service at a location.

his location was

General statement about a person's location at a particular time.

FAQs

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

"He was stationed" indicates that someone was assigned to a specific location, typically for military or official duties. For example, "He was stationed in Germany during the war".

What's a synonym for "he was stationed"?

Alternatives include "he was posted", "he was assigned", or "he served at", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "he is stationed" instead of "he was stationed"?

Yes, both are correct, but they refer to different time frames. "He is stationed" indicates a current assignment, while "he was stationed" refers to a past assignment.

What is the difference between "he was stationed" and "he was deployed"?

"He was stationed" is a general term for being assigned to a location. "He was deployed" specifically refers to a military deployment, often to a combat zone or area of operations.