she was promised

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "she was promised" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a commitment or assurance made to someone, typically in the context of expectations or agreements. Example: "Despite her hard work, she was promised a promotion that never materialized."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

She was promised a return of 10percentt a year.

The New York Times

She was promised $2,000 if she complied.

The Guardian

She doesn't get the job she was promised.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

It's equally uncommon to meet a worker who receives the salary he or she was promised.

The New Yorker

She was promised a fixed contract after an internship, but it never came.

The New York Times

She considered withdrawing until she was promised a female makeup artist.

The New York Times

She was promised that the money would be reimbursed four days later.

The Guardian - Money

He was in love but she was promised to another and it was driving him mad.

The Guardian

He has previously said that she was promised that she would be released if she confessed.

The New York Times

She was promised that the money would be reimbursed four days later.

The Guardian - Money

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

After all, she's promised to keep her boat clean and never wear jeans.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "she was promised", ensure that the context clearly indicates who made the promise and what exactly was promised to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "she was promised" without specifying who made the promise. Vague promises can weaken your writing and confuse the reader. Instead of saying "She was promised a promotion", clarify with "Her manager promised her a promotion".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she was promised" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that someone made a promise to the female subject. It emphasizes that the subject is the recipient of the action (the promise) rather than the performer. According to Ludwig, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Formal & Business

16%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Science & Research

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "she was promised" is a grammatically correct and frequently used passive voice construction that indicates someone made a promise to a female subject. According to Ludwig, it is usable in various contexts, primarily in news media, formal business settings, and wiki articles. While the phrase itself maintains a neutral register, it is important to ensure clarity regarding who made the promise to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "she was assured" or "she received an assurance" can be used to add nuance or formality. When using this phrase, always specify the source of the promise to avoid confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she was assured

A more direct synonym, replacing "promised" with "assured", maintaining a similar passive structure.

she was pledged

Emphasizes a formal or solemn promise.

she received an assurance

Replaces the passive voice with an active construction focusing on the act of receiving an assurance.

she had a guarantee

Focuses on the existence of a guarantee rather than the act of promising.

she was given an undertaking

Uses a more formal term, "undertaking", to describe the promise.

she was told to expect

Shifts the focus to the expectation created by the promise.

she was led to believe

Highlights the aspect of belief or persuasion resulting from the promise.

she had an expectation of

Highlights the resulting anticipation of an specific agreement.

it was stipulated to her

Implies a formal agreement or condition was communicated.

she was given hope

Focuses on the emotional impact of the promise.

FAQs

How to use "she was promised" in a sentence?

Use "she was promised" to indicate an assurance or commitment made to a female subject. For instance, "She was promised a raise after six months, but it never happened".

What can I say instead of "she was promised"?

You can use alternatives like "she was assured", "she was guaranteed", or "she received an assurance" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "she was promised" or "she is promised"?

"She was promised" is used for past events, while "she is promised" implies an ongoing or future arrangement. For example, "She was promised a bonus last year" (past) versus "She is promised a bonus if she meets her targets" (future).

What's the difference between "she was promised" and "she promised"?

"She was promised" indicates a passive action where someone made a promise to her, while "she promised" indicates an active action where she made a promise to someone else. For example, "She was promised a gift" versus "She promised to help".