held

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "held" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in various contexts, such as indicating possession, control, or a past action of holding something. Example: "The meeting was held in the conference room last week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Our vote held up, we had not anticipated the Tory vote collapsing quite so dramatically.

The Guardian

We work very hard and I am just pleased our vote held up.

The Guardian

"People must be held to account for their actions under the rule of law and in the case of Mr Downey clearly a dreadful mistake was made by him receiving that letter".

The Guardian

All presidential and parliamentary elections held during the independence era have been deemed flawed by independent western monitoring groups.

The Guardian

"It is in our vital national interest that we avoid the fatal mistake that would be a no vote if a referendum is held in the next few years".

The Guardian

Clarke held talks on this at a recent EU-Latin America summit in Chile with Karel De Gucht, the European trade commissioner.

The Guardian

Far more fossil fuels – about 2650GT – are held by state-owned companies, meaning that in total there are four to five times more fossil fuels in existing reserves than can be safely burned.

The Guardian

If there is one thing that has occasionally held her back, it has been her movement, with her tall frame not always easy to manoeuvre quickly enough.

The Guardian - Sport

His colleagues, he wrote, were being held in worse conditions than he was.

The Guardian

The bay colt, owned by Zayat Stables and trained by Bob Baffert, was installed as the 3-5 morning-line fatorite at Wednesday's draw, held for the first time at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan instead of Belmont Park's Garden Terrace room.

The Guardian - Sport

The Tories sought to portray the result as a blow to Labour, which held the seat until 2010 on different boundaries.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "held" to describe an event, consider whether a more specific verb like "hosted", "conducted", or "organized" might provide greater clarity.

Common error

Ensure you use the correct tense. "Hold" is present tense, while "held" is past tense. Using "hold" when the past tense is required is a common mistake.

Linguistic Context

The primary function of "held" is to serve as the past tense and past participle of the verb "hold". As Ludwig AI indicates, it's used to describe actions completed in the past. Examples from Ludwig showcase its versatility in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Reference

5%

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "held" is the past tense of "hold", widely used across various contexts to denote actions completed in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and versatility. While simple to use, consider specifying a more precise synonym for better clarity, like "conducted" or "organized", depending on the subject. As shown by Ludwig, it appears frequently in News & Media, Business, and Scientific contexts, making it a valuable term for a variety of communications. Remember to differentiate it from "hold" and "holding" to maintain accuracy in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Conducted

Replaces "held" when referring to events or activities.

Kept

A simpler alternative, emphasizing the act of not releasing.

Maintained

Emphasizes continuity or preservation, differing from a single instance of "held".

Hosted

Similar to "held" for events, but emphasizes the role of the host.

Retained

Suggests keeping something over time, differing from a momentary hold.

Possessed

Focuses on ownership rather than the act of holding.

Organized

Highlights the planning aspect of an event, unlike "held" which simply denotes its occurrence.

Preserved

Implies keeping something in its original state, unlike simply "held".

Staged

Specifically for performances or events, highlighting the production aspect.

Officiated

Emphasizes the formal or authorized nature of the holding.

FAQs

How to use "held" in a sentence?

"Held" is the past tense of "hold". Use it to describe actions that occurred in the past, such as "The meeting was "held" yesterday" or "She "held" the baby carefully".

What can I say instead of "held"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "conducted", "maintained", "possessed", or "organized".

Which is correct, "held" or "hold"?

"Held" is the past tense and past participle of "hold". Use "hold" for present tense or infinitive forms. For example, "I "hold" the opinion that the meeting was "held" effectively".

What's the difference between "held" and "holding"?

"Held" is the past tense and past participle, while "holding" is the present participle. Use "holding" for continuous actions, such as "She is "holding" the baby". "Held" indicates a completed action.