play was held

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "play was held" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a performance or event, such as a theatrical play, took place at a specific time or location. Example: "The annual school play was held in the auditorium last Friday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

Play was held in three divisions, according to skill levels.

The New York Times - Sports

Play was held up in the 88th when three fans sprinted across the pitch chased by stewards.

Independent

A reading of the play was held about two weeks after the Trade Center towers were destroyed.

The New York Times

Harangody, who was averaging 24.3 points a game in conference play, was held to 13 points and shot 3 of 13 from the field.

The New York Times - Sports

Giorgio Ferrini, the Italian involved, refused to leave the field and play was held up for 10 minutes until armed policemen frogmarched him to the dressing-rooms.

The Guardian - Sport

The only alarm for Derbyshire was when Huw Waters struck Poynton on the helmet with a short delivery and play was held up for four minutes.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

One role he said he could play was holding people to account," he added.

The Guardian

Play is held up as he receives treatment.

The Guardian - Sport

9.13pm BST 88 min: Everyone catches their breath as play is held up for Paredes to receive treatment for a knock.

The Guardian - Sport

It was the first time in 12 years that attendance fell below capacity on two consecutive days – the last time was in 2004, which was severely hit by bad weather, resulting in play being held on the middle Sunday.

The Guardian - Sport

Even when Barnes overstates his case, as he does by having Jack assume the role of a serial killer, the play is held together by McAvoy's mesmerising performance.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "play was held" to clearly indicate that a theatrical performance, game, or similar event took place, especially when specifying the location or circumstances.

Common error

Avoid using "play was held" when referring to activities that aren't performances or organized events; instead, use more appropriate terms like "meeting", "discussion", or "session" to accurately describe the activity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "play was held" functions as a passive construction, indicating that a performance or event (the "play") was the recipient of the action (being "held"). Ludwig confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

12%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "play was held" is a grammatically correct passive construction that indicates a performance or event took place. Ludwig confirms its usability in written English, although it is relatively uncommon. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts, with occasional use in scientific and general writing. While generally neutral in tone, formality can vary based on the source. When writing, ensure the term accurately reflects the nature of the event being described to avoid misrepresenting its scope.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the game was stopped

Focuses specifically on a game being interrupted or stopped.

the match was suspended

Emphasizes a temporary halt to a match.

the performance took place

Replaces "play" with a broader term, "performance", and uses the verb "took place".

the event occurred

Generalizes the action to any type of event.

the game was interrupted

Highlights the interruption of a game.

the theatrical production occurred

More formal and specific to theatrical productions.

the session was conducted

Suitable for formal sessions or meetings.

the contest was paused

Specifically refers to a contest being temporarily stopped.

the proceedings were halted

A more formal way to indicate that something was stopped.

the show was staged

Focuses on the staging of a show or performance.

FAQs

How can I use "play was held" in a sentence?

You can use "play was held" to describe a theatrical performance that took place, like "The school "play was held" in the auditorium last night".

What are some alternatives to "play was held"?

Alternatives include phrases like "performance took place", "the show was staged", or "the event occurred depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "a play was hold" instead of "play was held"?

No, the correct phrasing is ""play was held"". "Hold" is the base form of the verb, while "held" is the past participle used in the passive voice.

What is the difference between "play was held" and "play was stopped"?

"Play was held" indicates that the performance occurred. "Play was stopped" implies that the performance was interrupted.