it was advised

USAGE SUMMARY

"it was advised" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when talking about something that someone suggested as the best course of action. For example: "My doctor advised that I get more exercise, so I started walking for thirty minutes each day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Most of this colossal expense, she says, could have been avoided if the school had been able to afford to line its drains, as it was advised to do, a few years earlier.

The Guardian

Carmarthenshire council also said it was advised that its payments to chief executive Mark James were lawful.

BBC

A.I.G. said it was advised to do so by its own actuaries and outside consultants after a thorough year-end review.

The New York Times

He wrote in a confidential journal distributed to tribunal members earlier this year that it was advised by the DWP to expect a surge in its workload, but delays in the DWP rolling out its new reconsideration stage and reaching its decisions has in fact meant a huge drop in cases.

The Guardian

When in doubt, everyone knew it was advised just to let the customers fend for themselves.

Harvard Business Review

Like most potential bidders who looked at the company's financials, it was advised by an investment bank, which was also located in Bangkok.

The New York Times

Once you were upstairs it was advised to close the trap door because if you got up in the middle of the night, sleepy and dopey — shplott!

The New York Times

In May, Mego said it was advised that Sycamore would proceed with the deal only if certain terms were changed, including a cut in the purchase price.

The New York Times

"Following a scan yesterday and review by the medical team, it was advised that Stokes would be unavailable for the match in Durham.

The Guardian - Sport

It was advised of the existence of the exclusion zone policy and decided instead to follow the route of building a mock-up.

The Guardian - Business

A source close to Whittingdale said: "John inquired about the cost of the trip from the organiser and it was advised it was £534.82.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it was advised", ensure the context clearly indicates who provided the advice to maintain clarity and credibility.

Common error

Avoid using "it was advised" without specifying who provided the advice, as this can make the sentence vague and less impactful. Instead, consider specifying the source of the advice: "The doctor advised..." or "Experts advised...".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was advised" functions as a passive construction used to report a recommendation or suggestion. According to Ludwig AI, it is a correct and usable phrase, used when discussing a suggested action.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it was advised" is a common and grammatically sound passive construction used to convey that a recommendation or suggestion was made. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. It is particularly prevalent in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. When using the phrase, ensure clarity by specifying who provided the advice when possible. If it's better to use alternatives, consider "it was recommended" or "it was suggested" depending on the context. Specifying the source of the advice can often strengthen your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was recommended

Replaces "advised" with "recommended", suggesting a formal endorsement.

it was suggested

Uses "suggested" implying a less forceful recommendation than "advised".

they advised

Shifts from passive to active voice, indicating who gave the advice.

guidance was given

Replaces "it was advised" with a more general term "guidance was given".

it was counseled

Uses "counseled", suggesting professional advice was given.

it was the consensus

Indicates a collective agreement rather than individual advice.

the recommendation was

Focuses on the recommendation itself rather than the act of advising.

it was the opinion

Presents it as a personal belief, less authoritative than advice.

the suggestion was made

Similar to "it was suggested" but slightly more formal.

experts suggested

Implies that professionals in the area made the suggestion.

FAQs

How can I use "it was advised" in a sentence?

Use "it was advised" to indicate that a recommendation or guidance was provided, for example, "It was advised that we postpone the meeting."

What are some alternatives to "it was advised"?

Alternatives include "it was recommended", "it was suggested", or "they advised", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it better to use active or passive voice when conveying advice?

While "it was advised" (passive voice) is grammatically correct, using active voice (e.g., "the doctor advised") can make your writing more direct and engaging.

When is it appropriate to use "it was advised" in formal writing?

"It was advised" is appropriate in formal writing when you want to emphasize the advice itself rather than the advisor, or when the advisor is unknown or unimportant.