he was stopped

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he was stopped" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone was halted or prevented from continuing an action, often in a passive context. Example: "As he was walking down the street, he was stopped by a friend who wanted to chat."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He was stopped short.

The Guardian - Sport

He was stopped by an immigration officer.

The New York Times - Books

Then he was stopped by the feds.

The Washington Post

He was stopped by the police.

The New York Times - Sports

He was stopped by Border Patrol officers.

The New Yorker

He was stopped for no gain.

The New York Times - Sports

He was stopped by another soldier.

The New York Times

He was stopped at a checkpoint, he said.

The Washington Post

Two days later he was stopped; he had lost.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Luckily he was stopped by Tom Baker's fourth Doctor.

Independent

"And thankfully, he was stopped before he could act".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he was stopped" to describe an interruption or prevention of movement or action, especially when the actor doing the stopping is either unknown or less important than the fact that the subject was stopped.

Common error

Avoid using "he was stopped" when you want to emphasize the actor who stopped him; instead, use an active voice construction like "the police stopped him" to make the actor clear.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was stopped" functions as a passive construction, indicating that someone experienced an action (being stopped) rather than initiating it. Ludwig examples show a wide range of situations where this passive form is employed to describe an interruption or halt.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "he was stopped" is a versatile and grammatically sound passive construction used to indicate that an individual's progress or action was interrupted by an external force. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across numerous contexts. It is prevalent in news and media, academic writing, and general discussions. When using this phrase, be mindful of whether the actor should be emphasized; if so, an active construction might be more appropriate. The phrase's neutral register makes it suitable for various levels of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he was brought to a halt

More explicit and emphatic, indicating a complete stop to movement or progress.

he was intercepted

Focuses on the action of being caught or blocked while in transit or attempting to reach a destination.

he was prevented from proceeding

Highlights the inability to continue due to an external force or circumstance.

he was apprehended

Emphasizes being caught, usually by law enforcement, after attempting to evade capture.

he was detained

Focuses on being kept in custody or temporarily prevented from proceeding.

he was obstructed

Highlights the act of something or someone creating an obstacle, preventing further progress.

he was checked

Implies a halt or examination, often in a formal or controlled setting.

he was held back

Suggests a restriction or impediment that prevented forward movement or advancement.

he was thwarted

Highlights the action of preventing someone from achieving their goal or plan.

he was impeded

Emphasizes that something has slowed down or hindered progress.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "he was stopped" to use active voice?

To use active voice, structure the sentence to highlight who or what did the stopping. For example, instead of "he was stopped by the police", you could say "the police stopped him".

What are some synonyms for "he was stopped"?

Alternatives include phrases like "he was intercepted", "he was detained", or "he was held back", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "he was stopped" formal or informal?

The phrase "he was stopped" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. The level of formality depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and sentence structure rather than the phrase itself.

When should I use "he was stopped" versus "he stopped"?

"He stopped" indicates a voluntary action, while "he was stopped" implies an external force caused him to halt. Use "he was stopped" when someone or something else caused the action to cease. Consider the difference: "He stopped at the red light" versus "he was stopped by the police".