ordered

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ordered" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of requesting or arranging something in a specific sequence or requesting items or services. Example: "I ordered a new laptop online and it should arrive by the end of the week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The federal appeals court in Atlanta ordered that the execution should be delayed for at least 30 days, while a Georgia court of appeals imposed its own stay to give the courts more time to consider the propriety of the single lethal injection as a method of killing.

The Guardian

For me, it was while trying to pre-board an overcrowded flight to Miami with a noisy baby in my arms, only to be ordered back in line by a curt agent.

The Economist

Clearly, he hadn't bargained on the fact that "paying forward" for the stunt would entail losing his wife, his cat, his last remaining money, and any hope of shopping at the mall again for 12 months after Bloomington police ordered him not to return to the scene for a year.

The Guardian - Opinion

Authorities said Morrison fired when Ramirez made a downward movement with his hands after Morrison ordered him to keep his hands visible.

The Guardian

The foreign affairs ministers had reportedly said they would not actively search for the migrants but on Thursday Malaysia's premier, Najib Razak, ordered the navy and maritime officials to launch a search-and-rescue mission for the boat people.

The Guardian

Serbia were awarded a 3-0 walkover but had three points deducted, both countries were fined €100,000 each and Serbia were ordered to play their next two home qualifiers, against Denmark on 14 November and Armenia on 4 September next year, behind closed doors.

The Guardian - Sport

The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, expressed his condolences and ordered all necessary measures be taken to help the survivors.

The Guardian

Flaux admitted he had not seen the films, but had read a transcript, when he ordered the ban on Monday.

The Guardian

As part of anti-graft measures, Buhari also ordered that the currency be replaced, forcing all holders of old notes to exchange them at banks within a limited period.

The Guardian

In 18 months, a new franchise competition begins to run the services, potentially a moment at which upgrades will be ordered.

The Guardian

Mass killings of Tutsis, expressly ordered by the Congolese president, Laurent Kabila, have occurred in western and eastern Congo.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "ordered" to describe commanding someone to do something, consider if a more appropriate word could be used that could reflect tone such as "instructed" or "commanded".

Common error

Avoid using "ordered" in unnecessarily complex passive voice constructions. Instead of saying "It was ordered that the meeting be postponed", a more direct construction like "They ordered the meeting to be postponed" is clearer and more concise.

Linguistic Context

The word "ordered" functions primarily as the past participle of the verb "order", often indicating an action of giving a command or instruction. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically correct and usable in written English. It can also act as an adjective, signifying something that is arranged or organized.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ordered" is a versatile word primarily functioning as the past participle of "order" or as an adjective. It is grammatically sound, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, and frequently used across various contexts, particularly in news and formal settings. Its primary function is to convey direction, arrangement, or organization. To enhance clarity, be specific about the criteria for ordering or avoid unnecessarily complex passive constructions. While often neutral in tone, "ordered" can also convey authority, making it essential to select the most fitting term based on context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

requested

Indicates a polite or formal asking for something.

instructed

Suggests a formal imparting of directions or information.

commanded

Implies a more forceful and authoritative directive.

arranged

Focuses on the act of organizing or planning something.

decreed

Suggests an official or legal command.

prescribed

Implies a rule or recommendation that must be followed.

stipulated

Indicates a specific requirement or condition.

reserved

Focuses on setting something aside for a particular person or purpose.

requisitioned

Signifies a formal demand for something, often in a military context.

commissioned

Suggests formally requesting the creation of something, like a work of art.

FAQs

How to use "ordered" in a sentence?

You can use "ordered" to indicate giving an instruction or command, such as "The general "ordered" his troops to advance". It can also mean arranging things in a sequence, like "The files were "ordered" by date".

What can I say instead of "ordered"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "commanded", "instructed", "requested", or "arranged".

Which is correct, "ordered to do" or "ordered doing"?

"Ordered to do" is the correct form. For example, "He was "ordered to do" his homework" is correct, while "He was ordered doing his homework" is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "ordered" and "requested"?

"Ordered" implies a higher degree of authority and obligation compared to "requested". "Ordered" suggests a command that must be followed, while "requested" indicates a polite asking for something that may or may not be fulfilled.