it was countersigned

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was countersigned" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a document or agreement that has been signed by an additional party to validate or confirm it. Example: "The contract was finalized once it was countersigned by both parties."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It was countersigned by its obvious target, the prime minister and media tycoon Silvio Berlusconi.See article: Italy's media and politicsThe Anglican church worldwide got a new head proposed by Britain's prime minister and appointed by its queen.

The Economist

In addition, no government reports could be officially approved and sent to the capital until it was countersigned by civil officials sent south by the emperor.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

His cabinet approved a decree which, had it been countersigned by President Giorgio Napolitano, would have forced Ms Englaro's doctors to continue treatment.Why?

The Economist

But Mr. Himmelstein said that because this appears to be a nonregulated tenancy, unless the landlord has already signed the lease, the lease will not become effective until it is countersigned by the landlord and returned to the tenant.

The New York Times

The Proclamation which you have just heard read by the Governor-General's Official Secretary was countersigned Malcolm Fraser, who will undoubtedly go down in Australian history from Remembrance Day 1975 as Kerr's cur.

Wikipedia

The informed consent was countersigned by the personnel who had conducted the informed consent discussion who was qualified according to local regulations.

BMC Pediatrics

If the respondent was literate and gave consent to participate, the form was provided to the respondent to read and sign, and was countersigned by the interviewer.

BMC Public Health

It must be countersigned by a Solicitor or other relevant advisor who advises the employee.

WikiHow

If you get it (which you may after a time) the memorial must be entered in that department, sent out to be registered in this department, sent back to be countersigned in that department and then it will be regularly before this department.

The Guardian

In addition, it is now considered good practice for each published article to be countersigned by a 'guarantor' for the entire study.

Insights into Imaging

"Marriages have to be countersigned by the court.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was countersigned" when you want to emphasize the validation or approval aspect of a document or process, rather than just the act of signing.

Common error

Avoid assuming that a countersignature is merely a formality. Understand that it often signifies an additional level of scrutiny, approval, or authorization, and use the phrase appropriately.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was countersigned" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that a document or action received a secondary signature. Ludwig examples show its use in contexts requiring additional validation or approval. Ludwig AI confirms this is correct usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it was countersigned" signifies that a document or action received a secondary signature for validation or approval. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used in neutral to formal contexts, particularly in news, science, and legal fields. It's important to use the phrase when highlighting the significance of the additional signature and to ensure clarity about who performed the countersigning. Alternatives like ""it received a countersignature"" or "it was co-signed" can be used depending on the desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it received a countersignature

Replaces the verb phrase with a noun phrase, emphasizing the action of countersigning.

it was co-signed

Uses a simpler term, 'co-signed', to convey the same meaning of joint signature.

it was endorsed

Suggests approval and support, which is a similar but broader meaning than simply signing.

it was ratified

Implies a formal approval process, often used in legal or official contexts.

it was validated

Focuses on the act of confirming the authenticity or correctness of something.

it was authenticated

Highlights the confirmation of genuineness, often used for documents or artifacts.

it was verified

Emphasizes the confirmation of truth or accuracy through investigation.

it was approved

Focuses on the granting of permission or agreement.

it was certified

Implies an official attestation of quality or compliance.

it was authorized

Highlights the granting of official permission or power.

FAQs

What does "it was countersigned" mean?

It means a document or agreement was signed by an additional person to validate or confirm the original signature. This often indicates a secondary level of approval or authorization.

When is it appropriate to use "it was countersigned" in a sentence?

Use it when referring to a document or action that required a secondary signature for validation. For example, "The contract was finalized once "it received a countersignature" by both parties."

What are some alternatives to using "it was countersigned"?

You can use alternatives like "it was co-signed", "it was endorsed", or "it was ratified" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "it was signed" and "it was countersigned"?

"It was signed" simply means someone put their signature on a document. "It was countersigned" indicates that an additional signature was required, typically for validation or approval.