pledged

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pledged" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a commitment or promise made to do something, often in a formal context. Example: "The organization pledged to donate a portion of its profits to charity this year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He pledged to cut his personal carbon footprint and emissions from his department's headquarters by 10% in 2010.

The Guardian

Obama pledged the law would lower premiums by up to $2,500 per year for a typical family by January 2013 and improve the economy.

The Guardian - Opinion

Should they win next year's election, the Tories are pledged to follow a renegotiation of Britain's membership with an in/out referendum that will supposedly materialise by the end of 2017.

The Guardian

The authorities have pledged rapid justice for Ram, the 15-year-old burned to death last week.

The Guardian

Donors have suspended pledged aid worth $150m until Banda, who came to power in 2012 following the sudden death of president Bingu wa Mutharika, "cleans up the mess" of corruption and speedily prosecutes all suspects.

The Guardian

David Cameron has pledged England will have "become the first country in the world to deliver a truly seven-day NHS" by 2020.

The Guardian

A 30 April deadline to convert $4.7bn in pledged assistance into specific payment timetables has been missed.

The Guardian

Owen Coyle was thought to be Celtic's first choice and, although he pledged his commitment to Burnley before going on holiday at the weekend, he is yet to sign an extended contract at Turf Moor.

The Guardian - Sport

First, in 2010-11, they pledged that making historic cuts amid a global slump would definitely, absolutely secure a strong recovery.

The Guardian - Opinion

The company, which pays the living wage, has also pledged to invest up to £2m in environmental technology.

The Guardian

Some 750,000 on strike and playing for unbelievably high stakes, a government pledged to complete unfinished Tory business – and still, a deathly cultural quiet.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "pledged", ensure the context clearly indicates who made the pledge and what they committed to do. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the impact of your statement.

Common error

While "pledged" is a strong and valid term, it is often better suited for formal or official statements. Avoid using it in casual conversation; opt for simpler words like "promised" or "agreed" for a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "pledged" is as the past participle or past tense of the verb pledge. It is used to indicate a commitment or promise that has been made, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pledged" is a grammatically sound and frequently used term, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It functions as a past participle or past tense verb, used to communicate a formal commitment or promise. While primarily found in news and media contexts, its formality suggests reserving it for official statements or documented assurances. When seeking alternatives, consider "promised", "vowed", or "committed" depending on the context. Remember to ensure clarity by specifying who made the pledge and its specific commitment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

promised

Direct synonym, indicating a firm commitment to do something.

vowed

Emphasizes a solemn or determined promise, often made publicly.

committed

Indicates dedication and obligation towards a specific action or goal.

guaranteed

Suggests assurance that something will happen or be provided.

undertook

Implies taking on a responsibility or task, with a commitment to complete it.

assured

Focuses on removing doubt or uncertainty by making a confident promise.

swore

A more formal and emphatic way of promising, often involving an oath.

gave an assurance

Highlights the act of providing a guarantee or promise.

bound oneself

Indicates a formal agreement or obligation to do something.

contracted

Suggests a formal agreement, often legally binding, to fulfill certain obligations.

FAQs

How is "pledged" typically used in a sentence?

"Pledged" is generally used to indicate a formal commitment or promise, as in "The company "pledged to reduce emissions"" or "The government "pledged support for the project"".

What are some alternatives to using "pledged"?

Depending on the context, you can use words like "promised", "vowed", or "committed" as alternatives to "pledged".

Is there a difference between "pledged" and "promised"?

While both indicate a commitment, "pledged" often carries a stronger sense of formality and public declaration compared to "promised", which can be more informal.

When is it appropriate to use "pledged" instead of "said"?

"Pledged" is appropriate when someone has made a firm commitment to do something. "Said" is a more neutral term, simply indicating that someone has spoken.