idea was rejected

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "idea was rejected" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a proposal or suggestion that was not accepted or approved. Example: "After careful consideration, the committee decided that the idea was rejected due to budget constraints."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This idea was rejected.

The New Yorker

(The idea was rejected).

The New York Times - Arts

That idea was rejected by the Timorese government.

The Guardian

That idea was rejected by the Chinese, they said.

The New York Times

But officials said today that idea was rejected as unworkable.

The New York Times

The idea was rejected by Downing Street at the time.

The Guardian

But the idea was rejected as toxic for the character, she said.

The New York Times

This idea was rejected; instead, the lobby was named for the Broads.

The New Yorker

But the idea was rejected by representatives of candidates who were considering the race.

The New York Times

That idea was rejected, however, after a lengthy debate, according to Ministry of Culture officials.

The New York Times

But this idea was rejected by the chief rebel negotiator, Tom Woewiyu.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "idea was rejected", clarify the reason for rejection to provide context and avoid ambiguity. For instance, "The idea was rejected due to budget constraints."

Common error

While "idea was rejected" is grammatically correct, avoid overuse of the passive voice. Sometimes, specifying who rejected the idea (e.g., "The committee rejected the idea") creates a more direct and impactful sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "idea was rejected" functions as a passive construction, indicating that an idea has been turned down. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Wiki

22%

Encyclopedias

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Science

7%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "idea was rejected" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that a concept or proposal has been turned down. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread use. It's versatile enough for neutral contexts but can lean towards formality or informality depending on the surrounding text. While it's important to provide context on why an "idea was rejected", you should consider active voice to create a more direct and impactful sentence if appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

proposal was declined

Replaces "idea" with "proposal" and "rejected" with "declined", offering a more formal tone.

suggestion was dismissed

Substitutes "idea" with "suggestion" and "rejected" with "dismissed", implying a quick or abrupt rejection.

concept was turned down

Uses "concept" instead of "idea" and replaces "rejected" with the phrasal verb "turned down", providing a more informal alternative.

plan was vetoed

Replaces "idea" with "plan" and "rejected" with "vetoed", suggesting a formal and authoritative rejection.

recommendation was overruled

Substitutes "idea" with "recommendation" and "rejected" with "overruled", implying a higher authority reversed the decision.

notion was rebuffed

Replaces "idea" with "notion" and "rejected" with "rebuffed", indicating a strong and direct rejection.

thought was discarded

Uses "thought" in place of "idea" and "discarded" instead of "rejected", suggesting the idea was considered useless or irrelevant.

scheme was scrapped

Replaces "idea" with "scheme" and "rejected" with "scrapped", implying the idea was abandoned, often due to problems.

application was denied

Substitutes "idea" with "application" and "rejected" with "denied", often used in formal contexts such as job applications or legal requests.

proposal met with disapproval

Replaces "idea" with "proposal" and uses a more descriptive phrase to indicate the rejection was due to negative feedback.

FAQs

How can I use "idea was rejected" in a sentence?

You can use "idea was rejected" to describe a situation where a concept or proposal has been turned down. For example, "The team's "idea was rejected" during the initial planning phase because it was not feasible with the current resources."

What are some alternatives to saying "idea was rejected"?

Alternatives include "proposal was declined", "suggestion was dismissed", or "concept was turned down". The choice depends on the context and the degree of formality required.

Is it better to use active or passive voice when describing an idea being rejected?

While ""idea was rejected"" is grammatically correct in the passive voice, using the active voice (e.g., "The committee rejected the idea") can make your writing more direct and impactful, especially when you want to emphasize who did the rejecting.

What are common reasons why an "idea was rejected"?

Ideas can be rejected for various reasons, including budget constraints, lack of feasibility, conflicting priorities, or not aligning with the overall strategy. Providing the reason helps to contextualize why the "idea was rejected".