offer was made

USAGE SUMMARY

"offer was made" is a valid phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone has proposed something to someone else. For example: "After an hour of negotiation, an offer was made."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

No such offer was made.

The Economist

Offer was made by J.P. Morgan than.

The New Yorker

Anyway, no offer was made.

The New York Times

No formal offer was made then.

The Guardian - Sport

An offer was made to Jake Gyllenhaal.

The Guardian - Film

Loria denied such an offer was made.

The New York Times - Sports

But no formal offer was made.

The New York Times

Prosecutors say no such offer was made.

The New York Times

(Clarín's spokesman denied that this offer was made).

The New Yorker

The college tells us no such offer was made.

The Economist

The university would not say whether an offer was made.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "offer was made", clearly state who made the offer and to whom it was made to avoid ambiguity. For example: "An offer was made by the company to the union."

Common error

Avoid using "offer was made" without specifying the subject and object. Omitting this information can lead to confusion about who proposed the offer and who received it. Always clarify with a subject and a receiver.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "offer was made" functions as a passive construction, indicating that an offer, proposal, or bid was presented or extended by an unspecified actor. As evidenced by Ludwig, the structure is commonly used to convey the fact that a proposition occurred, without necessarily focusing on the initiator.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Sport

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "offer was made" is a commonly used passive phrase indicating that a proposition or bid was presented. As highlighted by Ludwig, it is grammatically sound and finds frequent application across various domains, particularly in News & Media, Sport and Business contexts. The phrase's utility lies in its capacity to convey information about the existence of an offer without emphasizing the offerer. While versatile, remember to specify subject and object to avoid ambiguity. As Ludwig AI confirms, this structure is widely accepted and understood in English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a proposition was presented

Substitutes "offer" with "proposition" and "made" with "presented", implying a formal offer or suggestion.

a proposal was submitted

Replaces "offer" with "proposal" and "made" with "submitted", implying a more formal submission.

the option was presented

Replaces "offer" with "option" and "made" with "presented", focusing on the choice being available.

an invitation was extended

Substitutes "offer" with "invitation" and "made" with "extended", suggesting a formal or courteous offering.

a suggestion was put forward

Replaces "offer" with "suggestion" and "made" with "put forward", implying a less formal and more tentative proposition.

a bid was presented

Replaces "offer" with "bid" and "made" with "presented", often used in a business or competitive context.

terms were offered

Focuses on the "terms" of an offer, implying specific conditions were presented.

a deal was put on the table

Replaces "offer" with "deal" and uses a more idiomatic expression, suggesting a negotiation.

a submission occurred

Replaces "offer" with "submission" and "made" with "occurred", focusing on the act of submitting something.

something was tendered

Using 'tendered' instead of 'made' brings a formal tone, often used in legal or business settings.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "offer was made" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you could say "a proposal was submitted" or "a proposition was presented", depending on the context.

What does it mean when someone says an "offer was made"?

It means that someone presented something to someone else, often with the intention of reaching an agreement or providing a benefit. The specifics of the offer depend on the situation.

Is it better to use active or passive voice when describing an offer?

Using the active voice (e.g., "The company made an offer") is often clearer and more direct than the passive voice ("offer was made"). However, the passive voice can be useful when the actor is unknown or unimportant.

What is the difference between "offer was made" and "offer was extended"?

"Offer was made" is a general statement that an offer occurred. "Offer was extended" implies a more formal or courteous gesture, similar to an invitation.