it was declined

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was declined" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you need to explain that something was refused or rejected. For example, "I applied for the job, but my application was declined".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

"I'm sorry," she said, after swiping my card, "it was declined.

Vice

He thought a timer would help, but "every time I brought a watch on the test day it was declined for its own reason," like being capable of beeping or browsing the Web.

The New York Times

It was declined.

The New York Times

When she swiped her debit card at the grocery store, it was declined.

The New York Times

Though made for French television, it was declined, and had just one legendary showing in Le Havre, France.

The New York Times

It was declined but Hopkins, who was in Las Vegas on media duty, is still taking a long look at the kid.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

The banks' share of such mortgage lending was still large, but it was declining.

The New York Times

Although population viral load was stable throughout the epidemic, it was declining steadily with ART scale-up.

AIDS

"It's declined but is still on its feet.

The Guardian

It's declined and Seattle take over at their own 38.

The Guardian - Sport

Dobbs mentioned the high dropout rate, but it's declined from 12.1 percent in 1990 to 7.4 percent in 2010.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was declined" when you want to state a formal refusal or rejection of something, such as an offer, request, or application.

Common error

While "it was declined" is grammatically correct, overuse of passive voice can make your writing sound less direct. Consider using an active voice construction if appropriate: "They declined it."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was declined" functions as a passive construction where "it" represents the subject being acted upon. It indicates that something has been refused or rejected. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

29%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was declined" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that something has been refused or rejected. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. As a passive construction, it is suitable for various contexts, including news reports, scientific articles, and general communication. While predominantly found in News & Media and Science, writers should be mindful of overusing passive voice and consider active voice constructions for a more direct tone. Semantically related phrases such as "it was rejected" or "it was turned down" can provide stylistic alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was rejected

Directly states the action of rejecting.

it wasn't accepted

States the lack of acceptance.

it was turned down

Uses a phrasal verb to express rejection.

it received a negative response

Emphasizes the type of response received.

it was disapproved of

Uses a passive construction to emphasize the act of disapproving.

it met with a refusal

Highlights the act of refusing.

it faced disapproval

Highlights the feeling of disapproval.

it did not pass

Focuses on the failure to be approved.

it proved unacceptable

Emphasizes the inherent quality of being unacceptable.

it didn't get the green light

Uses an idiomatic expression to indicate that permission was not granted.

FAQs

What does "it was declined" mean?

The phrase "it was declined" means that something was refused or rejected. It indicates that a request, offer, or application was not accepted.

What can I say instead of "it was declined"?

You can use alternatives like "it was rejected", "it was turned down", or "it wasn't accepted" depending on the context.

Is "it was declined" formal or informal?

"It was declined" is generally considered neutral to formal. The level of formality depends more on the context than the phrase itself.

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

You can use "it was declined" to explain that something has been refused, for example: "The offer "it was declined" due to budget constraints".