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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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is waited

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "is waited" is not correct.
We would normally use the verb phrase "are waiting" instead of "is waited" in written English. For example, "The students are waiting for the bus to arrive."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

At one point she stays at the home of an Indian friend and is waited on by black servants.

News & Media

The New York Times

In the movie she visits an upscale department store and is waited on by her working-class counterpart, unaware of what the two have in common.

News & Media

The New York Times

Peter, expert comedian that he is, waited at the top of the stairs for the laughter to subside before exclaiming, "I have done the deed," which brought the house down.

When he returns as a newspaper correspondent, he lives in a big house near the graceful plaza of Coyoacan in Mexico City, the capital, and is waited on by servants.His fondness for the sounds, colours, smells, tastes and songs of Mexico run through the book.

News & Media

The Economist

Several studies have demonstrated that the bond strength between restorative materials and teeth is improved when a period of time after bleaching is waited to proceed with placement of the restoration [10 15], although they diverge regarding to the minimum waiting time necessary for that effect to take place.

She gives a porcelain doll to a younger girl to symbolise leaving childish things behind and she is waited on by fourteen attendants to represent the past fourteen years of her life.

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

His appointment is waiting".

News & Media

The New Yorker

The woman is waiting.

The mud is waiting.

News & Media

The New Yorker

The nation is waiting".

News & Media

The New York Times

"Your plane is waiting".

News & Media

The New Yorker
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "is waited"; instead, opt for grammatically correct alternatives such as "is being served" or "is awaiting" depending on the intended meaning.

Common error

Do not use "is waited" when intending to express being served or attended to. "Is waited" is not standard English. Use "is being served" instead.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

89%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is waited" incorrectly attempts to use the passive voice. As Ludwig AI highlights, it is ungrammatical. The correct usage depends on the intended meaning; it may involve being served, being kept waiting or another related action.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

29%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

14%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is waited" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. As Ludwig AI points out, alternative phrases like "is being served", "is awaiting", or "is kept waiting" should be used instead, depending on the intended meaning. The contexts in which "is waited" appears vary, but its low frequency and grammatical issues suggest avoiding its use in formal or professional writing.

FAQs

How can I correct the phrase "is waited"?

The phrase "is waited" is grammatically incorrect. Use alternatives like "is being served" when someone is providing service, or "is kept waiting" if you want to convey that someone is being made to wait.

What's the difference between "is waited" and "is being served"?

"Is waited" is not grammatically correct in standard English. "Is being served" is the correct passive form to indicate that someone is receiving service from someone else.

When should I use "is awaiting" instead of "is waited"?

The phrase "is waited" should not be used as it's grammatically incorrect. You can use "is awaiting" to express that someone is waiting for something, but ensure it fits the context, as it's more formal.

What are some alternatives to the ungrammatical phrase "is waited"?

Instead of "is waited", consider using phrases such as "is being attended to", "is expecting", or "is looking forward to" depending on the intended meaning. Remember that "is waited" is not considered correct English.

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Most frequent sentences: