it was held back

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was held back" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where something was restrained, delayed, or not allowed to proceed as intended. Example: "The project was delayed because it was held back by unforeseen circumstances."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Film

Music

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

But she found that it was held back by its own stultifying cultural codes.

The New York Times - Books

It was held back by four of its members, which lost more than 20percentt of their values.

The New York Times

It was held back from release.

The Guardian - Film

The report is dated September 2012, but it was held back by the Ukrainian government.

The New York Times

It was held back by the smartphone maker Palm, which fell more than 29 percent after offering a disappointing revenue forecast.

The New York Times

It was held back by losses for the energy sector, which weakened as the price of oil fell nearly 1 percent, hovering at $82 a barrel.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

"It was holding back the industry". After meeting Casado, Horowitz invested in Nicira and joined its board.

MIT Technology Review

Often, it is an "evenly quilted, colorless blanket of cloud," which glows softly "with the light that it was holding back".

The New Yorker

It was holding back medical advancements".

Forbes

Looking ahead, management said it was holding back on providing guidance.

Forbes

David Cation, of Charles Henshaw & Sons, said it was "holding back investment" from the private sector.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was held back" to clearly indicate that an external force or circumstance caused a delay or prevention of progress. This phrasing emphasizes the passive nature of the subject being acted upon.

Common error

Avoid using active voice when passive voice more accurately reflects the situation. For instance, instead of saying "They held back the report", use "The report was held back" to emphasize the report's status rather than the actors who delayed it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was held back" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject experienced an action performed by an unspecified agent. The Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, supporting its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Film

5%

Less common in

Music

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it was held back" is a grammatically correct passive construction used to indicate that something has been restrained or delayed by an external force. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is most commonly found in news and media contexts. While not exceedingly frequent, its usage is consistent and appropriate across various scenarios where explaining a delay or prevention is necessary. When writing, ensure the passive voice is the most accurate way to portray the situation, and consider alternatives like "it was delayed" or "it was restrained" for slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was restrained

Focuses on the act of actively restraining or controlling something.

it was delayed

Emphasizes the postponement of an event or action.

it was suppressed

Highlights the act of preventing something from being expressed or known.

it was impeded

Suggests that something's progress was hindered or obstructed.

it was retained

Focuses on maintaining possession or control over something.

it was deferred

Implies a more formal postponement to a later time.

it was curtailed

Signifies a reduction or limitation in scope or extent.

it was checked

Implies a brief interruption or halt to progress.

it was bottlenecked

Suggests a point of congestion or obstruction slowing progress.

it was stifled

Implies suppression or suffocation of something's growth or expression.

FAQs

How can I use "it was held back" in a sentence?

You can use "it was held back" to indicate that something was restrained or delayed, such as "The project "it was held back" due to funding issues".

What's a simple alternative to "it was held back"?

A straightforward alternative is "it was delayed", which conveys the same meaning of postponement or obstruction.

When is it appropriate to use "it was held back" instead of "it was delayed"?

"It was held back" suggests a more active force preventing progress, while "it was delayed" implies a simple postponement. Use "it was held back" when an external influence is actively restraining something.

Is "it was held back" formal or informal?

"It was held back" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding language and the overall tone of the writing. It is a neutral phrasing suitable for various settings.