it was picked

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was picked" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something was chosen or selected in the past. Example: "After much deliberation, it was picked as the best option for the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

As tiny as it was, it had been going about its day when it was picked up.

Stanford University

It had its premiere at the festival, where it was picked up for commercial release.

The New York Times

(It was picked up by Relativity Media).

The New York Times

It was picked too late.

The New York Times - Arts

"It was picked fresh just few minutes ago".

The New York Times

It was picked off some 30 yards downfield.

The New York Times - Sports

Nevertheless, it was picked up by athletes and coaches.

The Guardian

Because it was picked on the men's tournament?

The Guardian - Sport

And it was picked up for 10 episodes already!

The Guardian - TV & Radio

It was picked up by Lewis at 130p a share.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

It was picked up and caused some excitement on Twitter.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the formality of your writing. While "picked" is generally acceptable, "selected" or "chosen" might be more appropriate for formal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "it was picked" without specifying what "it" refers to or who did the picking. Ambiguity can confuse the reader and weaken your message. Instead of saying "It was picked", clarify with something like, "The winning design was picked by the judges."

Linguistic Context

"It was picked" functions as a passive construction, indicating that 'it' (the subject) underwent the action of being chosen or selected. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usability. The examples show how it's used across various contexts to describe a selection process.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Academia

14%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it was picked" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase, confirmed by Ludwig, to indicate that something has been selected. While versatile across contexts, it's most prevalent in news and media. For formal communications, consider more refined alternatives like "it was selected". Remember to avoid ambiguity by clearly stating who or what did the picking. As evidenced by the provided examples, using "it was picked" in your writing is generally correct. Ludwig AI affirms its widespread applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was selected

Replaces 'picked' with a more formal synonym, emphasizing a deliberate choice.

it was chosen

Similar to 'selected', but implies a preference or decision among multiple options.

it was handpicked

Emphasizes careful and selective choice, suggesting a high level of scrutiny.

it was designated

Suggests an official or formal assignment.

it was appointed

Indicates selection for a specific role or position.

it was favored

Implies a preference or bias in the selection process.

it was retrieved

Focuses on obtaining something that was previously lost or inaccessible.

it was gathered

Suggests collecting multiple items together.

it was collected

Similar to 'gathered', but can also imply a more organized or systematic approach.

it was taken

A more general term for acquiring something, not necessarily implying a deliberate selection.

FAQs

What's a more formal way to say "it was picked"?

In more formal writing, consider using alternatives such as "it was selected" or "it was chosen" depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

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

You can use "it was picked" to indicate that something was selected from a group of options. For example, "After careful consideration, "it was picked" as the best solution."

What does "it was handpicked" mean?

"It was handpicked" implies that something was carefully selected, suggesting a high level of scrutiny and personal attention in the selection process.

Is there a difference between "it was picked" and "it was taken"?

Yes, ""it was picked"" usually implies a selection from multiple options, while "it was taken" is a more general term for acquiring something, not necessarily implying a deliberate selection process.