is given to

USAGE SUMMARY

"is given to" is a correct and usable expression in written English.
This expression is used to indicate that something is assigned or allocated to somebody or something. For example, "The trophy was given to the winning team."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Brian is given to excited exhortations.

The New York Times - Arts

Far less attention is given to marketing.

The Economist

Your language is given to you.

The New Yorker

Ollivier is given to dramatic silences.

Independent

"Preference is given to families".

The Guardian

(He is given to superlatives).

The Guardian

Enrollment priority is given to Music majors.

University of California, Berkeley

Specific attention is given to New Haven.

Yale University

Preference is given to law students.

Cornell University

Enrollment preference is given to freshmen.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Preference is given to Urban Studies majors.

Columbia University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is given to" to express the allocation of resources, assignment of tasks, or to describe someone's tendency towards a particular behavior or characteristic. Ensure the context clearly indicates whether you're referring to a deliberate act of giving or a natural inclination.

Common error

Avoid using "is given to" when an active voice construction would be clearer and more direct. Overusing the passive voice can make your writing sound awkward and less engaging. Consider who or what is doing the giving, and rephrase the sentence to highlight the actor if appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is given to" functions primarily as a passive voice construction. It indicates that someone or something is the recipient of an action, whether it's a tangible object, a privilege, or a characteristic. Ludwig provides examples demonstrating this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Academia

41%

News & Media

33%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is given to" is a grammatically correct and widely used passive voice construction, as affirmed by Ludwig. It serves to indicate allocation, assignment, or a tendency towards something, functioning across various contexts with a neutral to formal register. Ludwig's examples highlight its prevalence in academic, news, and scientific domains. While versatile, writers should be mindful of potential overuse and consider active voice alternatives for clarity. Related phrases like "is allocated to" or "tends to" may offer more precise expressions depending on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is allocated to

This alternative emphasizes the distribution of something for a specific purpose.

is assigned to

This suggests a formal task or responsibility being delegated.

is provided to

This focuses on the act of supplying or furnishing something.

is granted to

This implies a formal or legal authorization being given.

is awarded to

Suggests that something is formally bestowed as a prize or honor.

is inclined to

This indicates a tendency or predisposition towards a behavior or thought.

is prone to

This suggests a susceptibility to something, often negative.

tends to

This implies a habitual or usual behavior.

is susceptible to

Indicates vulnerability or likelihood of being affected by something.

is liable to

This suggests a risk or possibility of something happening, often undesirable.

FAQs

How can I use "is given to" in a sentence?

Use "is given to" to indicate that something is assigned, allocated, or has a tendency towards something. For example, "Preference is given to students with prior experience" or "He is given to dramatic outbursts".

What are some alternatives to "is given to"?

You can use alternatives such as "is allocated to", "is assigned to", or "tends to" depending on the specific context.

When is it better to use the active voice instead of "is given to"?

Using the active voice is better when you want to emphasize the actor or the source of the action. For example, instead of "Attention is given to the negative", you could say "The author gives attention to the negative".

What does "is given to" mean when describing a person's character?

When describing a person, "is given to" suggests that they have a tendency or inclination towards a particular behavior or trait. For example, "He is given to exaggeration" means he tends to exaggerate.