he was surrendered

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he was surrendered" is not correct in standard English usage.
It is typically used incorrectly as "surrendered" is a transitive verb that requires a subject who performs the action, not a subject who receives it. Example: "After a long standoff, he was surrendered to the authorities by his accomplices."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

After suffering a defeat at Carbisdale on April 27, he was surrendered by Neil MacLeod of Assynt, with whom he had sought protection.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Rep. 598, Cosgrove was brought into this country from Canada under a treaty which confined action against him to the very offense for which he was surrendered, until he should have an opportunity of returning.

Cornell University

"He was surrendered by his owners, who felt they couldn't provide the care he needed".

Huffington Post

The 25-pound cutie is also quite robust, which may be part of the reason why he was surrendered by his previous owner,  the shelter explained to HuffPost.

Huffington Post

The 25-pound cutie is also quite robust, which may be part of the reason why he was surrendered by his previous owner, the shelter explained to HuffPost.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

"Harvin was covering up; he was surrendering," Mr. Drucker said.

The New York Times

That might raise Tea Party suspicions that he was surrendering leverage.

The New York Times

He replied with a laugh, his hands thrown up as if he was surrendering.

The Guardian - Books

Depardieu announced that he was surrendering his passport, because he was a citizen of the world, who had been disrespected.

The New Yorker

Proclaiming his innocence and predicting he would be acquitted in a new trial, Mr. Chamblain said he was surrendering because of his confidence in the new government.

The New York Times

Stung by the abuse, he published a letter to Mr Ayrault on December 15th, saying he was surrendering his French passport because "you think that success, creativity, talent…should be punished".Amid the acrimony, the underlying problem has got lost.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone being handed over, consider using phrases like "he was handed over" or "he was given up" for clarity and grammatical correctness. This avoids the awkwardness often associated with the passive use of "surrender".

Common error

Avoid using "he was surrendered" when you mean "he was handed over" or "he surrendered himself". The verb "surrender" typically requires a subject actively performing the action, not receiving it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was surrendered" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject received the action of being surrendered. However, as Ludwig AI indicates, this construction is considered grammatically awkward. It's more common to use alternative phrasing to improve clarity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "he was surrendered" is understandable, it is not considered standard English. Ludwig AI points out that "surrender" typically requires an active subject. This construction occurs rarely and is more frequently found in news and academic contexts. For improved clarity and grammatical correctness, it's recommended to use alternatives such as "he was handed over" or "he was given up". When writing, consider the active role of the subject and use "surrender" accordingly, or opt for a more direct phrasing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he was handed over

Replaces "surrendered" with "handed over", a more common and grammatically sound alternative.

he was given up

Uses "given up" to convey the sense of being relinquished or abandoned.

he was turned in

Implies being delivered to authorities, emphasizing the act of betrayal or compliance.

he was relinquished

A more formal way of saying he was given up, suitable for legal or official contexts.

he was delivered

Suggests a formal transfer to another party, such as authorities or captors.

he was betrayed

Focuses on the act of betrayal leading to his capture or surrender.

he was yielded

Emphasizes the act of conceding or giving way, leading to his surrender.

he was abandoned

Highlights the state of being forsaken or left behind, resulting in his capture.

he was forsaken

Similar to "abandoned" but with a stronger sense of being deserted or betrayed.

he was extradited

Specifically refers to the legal process of transferring someone to another jurisdiction.

FAQs

Is "he was surrendered" grammatically correct?

While sometimes used, "he was surrendered" is often considered grammatically awkward. It's generally better to use phrases like "he was handed over" or "he was given up".

What's a better alternative to "he was surrendered"?

Consider using alternatives such as "he was turned in", "he was relinquished", or "he was betrayed" depending on the specific context and meaning you want to convey.

How can I use "surrender" correctly in a sentence?

Ensure the subject is actively performing the act of surrendering. For example, "He surrendered to the authorities" is correct, while "he was surrendered" is less precise and potentially grammatically awkward. Consider alternatives like "he gave himself up".

What does "he was surrendered by" mean?

This phrase implies that someone else gave him up or handed him over. However, it's often clearer to say "he was handed over by" or "he was betrayed by" to avoid ambiguity.