instruction was given

USAGE SUMMARY

"instruction was given" is correct and can be used in written English.
It can be used to describe when a person was told what to do. For example: The teacher gave instruction to the students on how to correctly solve the math problem.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"In one of the cases an instruction was given on behalf of the president.

The New York Times - Sports

This instruction was given in one form or another half a dozen times during the course of the judge's charge.

Cornell University

In all cases, the teachers were appointed with reference to religious faith; religious instruction was given in school hours and was inspected by the clergy.

Britannica

I can assure you that no such instruction was given by the Irish government nor do I think the UK would obey such an instruction.. that's obviously untrue.

The Guardian

From our point of view as soon as that last pit stop was completed the instruction was given to both cars effectively to hold position.

The Guardian - Sport

Jefferson said that "she could not say whether the instruction was given but if it had been [she] could not think why [she] had not acted upon it".

The Guardian

Italian was completely ignored at Vittorino's school; all instruction was given in Latin, the study of which, along with Greek, reached a high level of excellence.

Encyclopedia Britannica

After that, although he was nearing 30, he frequented for a time a private academy where intermittent instruction was given by the portraitist Eugène Carrière.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The other defendants did not request any instruction to the jury in reference to the matter, and they do not contend that any erroneous instruction was given.

Cornell University

To the extent the Texas appellate court believed that Penry I was satisfied merely because a supplemental instruction was given, the court clearly misapprehended that prior decision.

Cornell University

The responsibility for this instruction was given to reading specialists who helped struggling readers with basic skills, usually in a setting outside the content-classroom.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "instruction was given", ensure the context clearly implies who received the instruction, even if the giver remains unspecified. This enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "instruction was given" in contexts where identifying the giver of the instruction is crucial. In such cases, rephrase to actively state who gave the instruction to maintain transparency and accountability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "instruction was given" functions as a passive construction, indicating that someone received direction or guidance. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound. The focus is on the recipient and the action, rather than the actor.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

33%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "instruction was given" is a grammatically correct and very common passive construction used to indicate that guidance or direction was provided. As Ludwig AI states, it is valid for use in written English. Its register is generally neutral, suitable for a variety of contexts including science, news, and academia, as demonstrated by the wealth of examples provided by Ludwig. While the phrase is useful when the giver of the instruction is unknown or unimportant, it's essential to ensure clarity and avoid ambiguity by specifying the actor when necessary. Alternatives like "guidance was provided" or "directions were issued" can be used to adjust the tone or emphasis. Remember that while "instruction was given" is widely accepted, mindful usage ensures clear and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

guidance was provided

Replaces "instruction" with "guidance", suggesting a more supportive and less directive approach.

directions were issued

Substitutes "instruction" with "directions" and "given" with "issued", implying a formal and official command.

a directive was issued

Replaces the entire phrase with a more formal noun-based construction.

orders were given

Replaces "instruction" with "orders", indicating a more authoritative and compulsory command.

advice was offered

Uses "advice" instead of "instruction", suggesting a more consultative and less mandatory communication.

counsel was provided

Uses "counsel" instead of "instruction", suggesting a more thoughtful and advisory communication.

information was conveyed

Replaces instruction with information, suggesting a broader type of message.

training was imparted

Replaces "instruction" with "training", implying a learning context and "given" with "imparted" which adds a formal tone.

the go-ahead was given

Replaces the phrase with an idiom indicating permission or approval to proceed.

the word was passed

Replaces the phrase with an idiom indicating an informal communication, often within a group.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "instruction was given" to sound more active?

To make the sentence more active, specify who gave the instruction. For example, instead of "instruction was given", you can say "the teacher "instructed the students"" or "the manager "gave the team instructions"".

Is it always necessary to specify who gave the instruction when using "instruction was given"?

No, it's not always necessary. The passive voice is useful when the giver is unknown, unimportant, or obvious from the context. However, be mindful of clarity and potential ambiguity.

What are some alternatives to "instruction was given" in a formal setting?

In formal contexts, consider alternatives like "a directive was issued", "guidance was provided", or "directions were issued". These options often convey a more professional and authoritative tone.

How does "instruction was given" differ from "instructions were given"?

The singular "instruction" typically refers to a single piece of guidance or a specific direction, while the plural "instructions" refers to a set of directions or detailed guidance. The choice depends on whether you are referring to a single directive or multiple ones.