proved successful

USAGE SUMMARY

"proved successful" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe when something has been tested and has been shown to be successful. For example, "The new marketing campaign proved successful, resulting in a 25% increase in sales."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Neither tactic proved successful.

The Economist

"The strategy proved successful.

The New York Times

It has generally proved successful.

The Economist

That proved successful, on the whole.

The Economist

Some of these innovations have proved successful.

The New York Times

That case has proved successful so far.

The New York Times

This more European strategy has proved successful.

The New York Times

The business proved successful and expanded rapidly.

The Guardian

This has proved successful in Europe.

The New York Times

Apparently the jacket collar had proved successful.

The Guardian - Music

Similar programs have proved successful in Europe.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "proved successful" to clearly indicate that a strategy, method, or action has been tested and has achieved a positive outcome. Ensure the context provides evidence or data to support the claim of success.

Common error

Avoid using "proved successful" without providing concrete examples or data to support the claim. Ensure your statement is backed by measurable results or demonstrable outcomes.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "proved successful" functions as a predicate adjective, indicating that the subject has demonstrated a positive outcome or achieved a desired result. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and frequently used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

36%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Encyclopedias

1%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "proved successful" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that something has achieved a positive outcome. According to Ludwig AI, it's widely used across various contexts, particularly in news, science, and formal business settings. When using this phrase, it's best practice to provide evidence to support the claim of success and avoid overstating results without data. Alternative phrases like "was a success" or "turned out well" can be used for variety. Keep in mind the past participles proven/proved as a matter of style preference, especially British versus American English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was a success

Replaces the verb "proved" with "was", simplifying the phrase.

was effective

Highlights effectiveness of an activity.

turned out well

Emphasizes the positive outcome or result.

yielded positive results

Highlights the results or outcomes achieved.

achieved the desired outcome

Focuses on the fulfillment of a specific goal.

was fruitful

Suggests the effort produced something valuable or beneficial.

bore fruit

Emphasizes the long-term benefits and rewards.

worked out as planned

Highlights the pre-planned and predicted achievement of a goal.

attained its objective

Highlights achievement and formal objective attainment.

accomplished its purpose

Highlights achievement and the completion of its mission.

FAQs

What does it mean when something is said to have "proved successful"?

It means that something—like a plan, experiment, or method—has been tested or implemented and has achieved a favorable or desired outcome.

What can I say instead of "proved successful"?

You can use alternatives like "was a success", "turned out well", or "was effective depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "proven successful" instead of "proved successful"?

Both "proven" and "proved" can be used as past participles of "prove", but "proved" is more common in British English, while "proven" is more common in American English. Both are grammatically acceptable.

How to use "proved successful" in a sentence?

You can use "proved successful" to describe a wide range of situations where something has achieved a positive result, for example: "The new marketing strategy "proved successful", leading to increased sales."