it was pledged

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was pledged" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a commitment or promise that has been made in the past. Example: "The funds for the project were secured because it was pledged by several generous donors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The move to increase consultant numbers was part of a government initiative announced in February in which it was pledged that £50m would be invested over the next three years to improve services for patients across Scotland.

BBC

A good slice of it was pledged directly to Machar's home region.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

In other news, Canada announced this week that it was pledging 50 million dollars to famine relief in the Horn of Africa.

Vice

Much as the government of President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, a former university professor, might like to spend its way out of this difficulty, it is pledged to cut its large fiscal deficit.

The Economist

The Met says that it's pledged to cut its administrative payroll by the same amount the unions accept.

Huffington Post

Your faith is not binding simply because you have pledged it; it is binding only if it is pledged to the right people.

The New York Times

Facebook notes it's pledged $1 million towards youth technology usage and well-being research.

TechCrunch

"It is pledged to work for agriculture.

Huffington Post

It is pledged to work for labor.

Huffington Post

It is pledged to work for the small businessman and the white-collar worker.

Huffington Post

It was like I was pledging to be in a fraternity,"Ed said jokingly.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider alternative phrasings like "a commitment was made", or "a promise was given" for variety and emphasis.

Common error

Avoid rewriting the sentence in active voice if the emphasis is intentionally on the pledge rather than the pledger. For example, don't change "It was pledged that resources would be provided" to "They pledged that resources would be provided" if the 'they' is less important or unknown.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was pledged" functions as a passive construction, indicating that a promise or commitment was made. The focus is on the action of pledging rather than the actor. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it was pledged" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in English. According to Ludwig, it's most commonly found in news and media contexts, where it serves to announce or report on a commitment or promise. While the phrase is relatively uncommon, understanding its passive construction and formal register allows for effective and accurate usage. When writing, consider alternative phrases for variety, and be mindful of maintaining a focus on the pledge itself, rather than the actor making the pledge.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a commitment was made

Emphasizes the action of making a commitment rather than the state of being pledged.

a promise was given

Highlights the act of giving a promise, shifting focus from the pledge itself.

an assurance was provided

Stresses the act of providing assurance, implying a guarantee of something.

it was guaranteed

Focuses on the guarantee aspect, suggesting a stronger level of certainty.

it was agreed upon

Highlights the consensus or agreement that led to the pledge.

it was vowed

Emphasizes a solemn or serious promise, often with emotional weight.

they undertook to

Presents the pledge as an undertaking or responsibility assumed by someone.

they gave their word

Focuses on the act of giving one's word, emphasizing personal commitment.

a guarantee was offered

Shifts the focus to the offer of a guarantee, rather than the pledge itself.

it was stipulated

Suggests that the pledge was a formal requirement or condition.

FAQs

What does "it was pledged" mean?

The phrase "it was pledged" means that something was promised or committed to in the past. It emphasizes that a commitment has been made.

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

You can use alternatives like "a commitment was made", "a promise was given", or "it was guaranteed" depending on the context.

Is "it was pledged" formal or informal?

"It was pledged" is generally considered to be more formal due to its passive voice construction. In less formal contexts, simpler phrases like "they promised" might be more appropriate.

How do I use "it was pledged" in a sentence?

You can use "it was pledged" to describe an official promise or undertaking. For example, "It was pledged that the city would reduce its carbon emissions by 50% by 2030".