he was withheld

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he was withheld" is not correct in standard English usage.
It may be intended to convey that someone was prevented from doing something, but the construction is awkward and unclear. Example: "He was withheld from participating in the event due to his previous actions."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It may be remembered that when the Italians were at war in Tripoli the late Archduke held menacing manoeuvres on the frontier, and was credited with the design, from which he was withheld by Count Aehrenthal and the Emperor, of marching into Italy to crush the secular monarchy and restore the Papal authority.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

While OneNote intrigued Dr. Singer, he said recently he was withholding judgment on the program.

The New York Times - Tech

Still, some officials at the CIA's headquarters believed that he was withholding information.

The Guardian - Opinion

That member, Charles Dempsey, said at the time that he was withholding his vote after coming under "unsustainable pressure" for it.

The New York Times - Sports

Dr. Tanner made the statement that he was withholding food to rescue her from the sin of gluttony.

The New Yorker

In August of that year, CIA officials at Gul's detention site twice reported they did not think he was withholding information.

The Guardian

He quoted a source who described missile activity in North Korea, but Mr. Rosen said he was withholding some details "to avoid compromising sensitive overseas operations".

The New York Times

He said that his witness was an airline employee whose name he was withholding but planned to eventually release to the police.

The New York Times

He had so much to give — stories, reflection, engagement — that somehow none of us ever noticed just how much he was withholding.

The New Yorker

While the project's developer, Bruce C. Ratner, indeed solicited his support early on, Mr. Yassky said he was withholding it until his concerns were addressed.

The New York Times

By last week, top Democratic leaders in the legislature sued Gov. Pat Quinn, a fellow Democrat, after he announced he was withholding lawmakers' paychecks until they come up with a plan to fix the state's pension crisis.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer direct verbs like "prevent", "restrain", or "stop" for clearer communication.

Common error

Avoid using the passive voice construction "he was withheld" as it sounds unnatural. Instead, opt for active voice constructions like "someone withheld something from him" or clearer passive alternatives like "he was prevented from".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was withheld" functions as a passive construction, suggesting that someone or something acted upon 'he' to prevent an action or disclosure. However, as Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is not a standard or preferred form.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while technically interpretable, the phrase "he was withheld" is not considered standard or grammatically sound English according to Ludwig AI. Its meaning, generally related to prevention or concealment, can be more effectively conveyed through clearer and more common alternatives like "he was prevented", "he was restrained", or "information was withheld from him". Given its rarity and potential for misinterpretation, particularly outside of neutral news contexts, it's advisable to opt for more conventional phrasing to ensure clarity and precision in writing. The analyzed examples primarily come from news sources, indicating its limited usage across diverse contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he was prevented

Emphasizes the act of stopping someone from doing something.

he was stopped

A simpler, more direct way of saying he was prevented.

he was kept from

Similar to 'prevented from', but slightly more informal.

he was restrained

Focuses on physical or metaphorical restriction.

he was held back

Implies a force or influence keeping him from progressing.

he was dissuaded

Highlights the act of persuading someone not to do something.

he was deterred

Focuses on discouraging someone through fear or doubt.

he was forbidden

Implies a formal prohibition.

he was barred from

Indicates exclusion or prohibition from a place or activity.

information was withheld from him

Focuses on concealing information.

FAQs

What does "he was withheld" mean?

The phrase "he was withheld" is not standard English. It likely means he was prevented or restrained from doing something, or that something was kept secret from him. However, it's best to use clearer alternatives.

How can I use "he was withheld" in a sentence correctly?

It's generally better to avoid "he was withheld" due to its awkwardness. Instead, use phrases like "he was prevented from", or "information "was withheld from him"" for better clarity.

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

You can use alternatives like "he was prevented", "he was restrained", or "something "was kept from him" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "he was withheld" or "something was withheld from him"?

"Something "was withheld from him"" is generally a better and clearer construction than "he was withheld". The latter is awkward and less common.