it was perpetuated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was perpetuated" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing how something, such as a belief, practice, or situation, has been continued or maintained over time. Example: "The myth was perpetuated through generations, leading many to believe in its truth."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

It was perpetuated by greedy bankers, whether investment bankers or commercial bankers.

The New York Times

It was perpetuated by 19th-century historians who wanted to portray the delegates to the Constitutional Convention as disinterested saviors of the nation.

The New York Times

It was perpetuated in part by European politics, as rival rulers supported either the pope in Rome or the pope in Avignon to assert ever greater authority over the church in their realms.

Encyclopedia Britannica

She explored why the practice persisted for so long: it was perpetuated by women, because they believed it was a way to gain an advantage in a male-controlled marriage market; and it functioned as a class signifier, because peasant women working in the fields could not afford to cripple themselves.

The Guardian - Opinion

And it was perpetuated by people who believed Freud.

Los Angeles Times

Racial segregation was the long established law of the land and it was perpetuated, in part, by the Senate filibuster.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

And I got frustrated with that, because it felt in a way it was perpetuating the cycle of homelessness.

The New York Times

But the key reason such behaviour continues is that it is perpetuated by the rich, and its losers are the poor.

The Guardian - Opinion

But neither reviewer delves into the cyclical nature of poverty, and how it is perpetuated.

The Guardian - Opinion

These conclusions are "false, unfair, dangerous and silly; yet it is perpetuated by our language, literature, media, many philosophers and our simple binary perspectives," Dr. Synnott writes in his paper.

The New York Times

"It is perpetuated by those leading the local and regional newspaper industry who have a vested interest in trying to grab a slice of licence fee payers' money," she said.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was perpetuated" when you want to emphasize that something, often negative or undesirable, was allowed to continue or even encouraged to continue.

Common error

While grammatically sound, relying too heavily on passive constructions like "it was perpetuated" can make your writing sound overly formal or impersonal. Vary your sentence structure to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was perpetuated" functions as a passive construction, indicating that something was caused to continue or be prolonged. It describes how an action or idea was sustained, as seen in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

33%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it was perpetuated" signifies that something has been allowed to continue, often carrying the implication of a sustained or prolonged action. Ludwig AI correctly identifies the phrase as grammatically sound and fit for use, predominantly within news and media, encyclopedias, and scientific contexts. When writing, be mindful of the potential for formality and explore alternative constructions to keep content engaging. Consider that it can be replaced by "it was sustained" or "it was continued". According to Ludwig, it serves to describe the continuation or maintenance of a particular state, action, or belief and is primarily observed in neutral registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was sustained

Replaces "perpetuated" with "sustained", focusing on the idea of maintaining something over time.

it was continued

Substitutes "perpetuated" with "continued", emphasizing the ongoing nature of something.

it was maintained

Replaces "perpetuated" with "maintained", highlighting the act of keeping something in existence.

it was prolonged

Substitutes "perpetuated" with "prolonged", focusing on extending the duration of something.

it was prolonged and reinforced

Adds "and reinforced", emphasizing the strengthening of something over time.

it was kept alive

Uses a more figurative expression, focusing on preventing something from fading or disappearing.

it was upheld

Replaces "perpetuated" with "upheld", emphasizing the act of supporting or defending something.

it was carried on

Employs a phrasal verb to indicate the continuation of something.

it was passed down

Suggests that something was transmitted from one generation to the next.

it was spread

Focuses on the dissemination or propagation of something.

FAQs

What does "it was perpetuated" mean?

The phrase "it was perpetuated" means that something was allowed to continue, often something negative or undesirable, and was even encouraged or sustained over a period of time.

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

You can use alternatives like "it was sustained", "it was continued", or "it was maintained" depending on the context.

Is "it was perpetuated" formal or informal?

The phrase "it was perpetuated" leans towards the formal side, but it can be used in neutral contexts as well. More informal alternatives might exist depending on the specific meaning you want to convey.

How to use "it was perpetuated" in a sentence?

Use "it was perpetuated" to describe how a belief, practice, or system was kept in existence or continued over time. For example, "The myth was perpetuated through generations", or "The cycle of poverty was perpetuated by lack of opportunity".