it was not operated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was not operated" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that was not put into operation or not functioning, often in a technical or medical context. Example: "The machine was malfunctioning, and it was not operated during the entire shift."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"It was not operated by the United States government, but by figures from both Ghanaian and Turkish organised crime rings and a Ghanaian attorney practising immigration and criminal law," the state department said in a statement.

The Guardian

Although this platform uses feeds supplied by Globo's outside broadcast van it was not operated by our broadcasting team.Supponor's system produces a delay in the audio and video feeds and it did not function satisfactorily, presenting problems during transmission of the match and a signal loss at the beginning of the second half, thus affecting Pitch's, Globo's, and ITV's productions.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

A Frankfurt court recently ruled that it was not operating its "low cost" UberPop service legally.

BBC

On April 16 the Supreme Court ordered the closure of the Independent Institute of Socio-Economic and Political Research NISEPII) on the grounds that it was not operating out of its official headquarters.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It was not operating, though.

The New York Times - Food

She was particularly concerned at this government's failure to understand that it was not operating in a historical vacuum.

The Guardian - Opinion

But Mr. Gates has not been shy about directly reshaping the military when he thought it was not operating efficiently or effectively, regardless of the uniform of the day.

The New York Times

No one could prudently ignore the perspective of senior fire chiefs, who had tested the system and believed it was not operating, he said.

The New York Times

He also vowed to raise the validity of the family court in the Senate, saying that if it was not operating under the constitution, he would "call for a moratorium until full compliance was achieved".

The Guardian

Cinematch worked, but behind the scenes, Netflix worried it was not operating at full potential.

TechCrunch

The failure of Morpurgo's apparatus produce measurements of integral charge indicated that it was not operating properly and that his theoretical understanding of it was faulty.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing equipment failure, specify the cause. Instead of just saying "The device was not operated", add "because of a power outage" or "due to a software error."

Common error

While "it was not operated" is grammatically correct, overuse of the passive voice can make writing sound weak. Consider using the active voice when possible: "They did not operate it" is more direct and engaging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was not operated" functions as a statement indicating a lack of activity or use. Ludwig shows that this phrase is used to describe situations where a device, system, or process was not running or being utilized.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was not operated" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in English that describes a state of non-operation. According to Ludwig, it serves to inform or explain the lack of activity or usage. Although not extremely common, its neutral-to-formal register makes it appropriate for news, scientific, and technical contexts. While you can use the passive voice construction, it's often more effective to consider active voice alternatives. Keep in mind the suggestion: specify the reason for being inactive. The contexts in which this phrase appears range from news reports to scientific articles and wikis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it wasn't functioning

Replaces "operated" with "functioning", emphasizing a lack of proper function.

it was out of service

Indicates that something is temporarily or permanently unavailable for use.

it was not in use

Focuses on the absence of utilization.

it was inactive

Highlights the lack of activity or operation.

it was shut down

Suggests a deliberate cessation of operation.

it was not running

Specifies that a process or machine wasn't active.

it was non-operational

A more formal way of saying it wasn't able to be operated.

it was not activated

Emphasizes that something was never started or turned on.

it was disabled

Implies that something's ability to operate was intentionally removed.

it was offline

Indicates that something is disconnected and therefore not operating.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "it was not operated" to sound more active?

Consider using the active voice to create a more direct and engaging sentence. Alternatives include "They did not operate it" or "No one operated it" depending on the context.

What is a more formal way to say "it was not operated"?

A more formal alternative is "it was non-operational". This phrase is suitable for technical documentation or official reports.

Is "it was not operated" the same as "it was not in use"?

While similar, they have slightly different connotations. "It was not operated" implies a specific action of operating, while "it was not in use" simply means it wasn't being utilized for any purpose.

What does it mean when something "was out of service" instead of "it was not operated"?

"It was out of service" often indicates a temporary unavailability, usually due to maintenance or repair, whereas "it was not operated" is a more general statement about a lack of operation for any reason.