subject was held

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "subject was held" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts such as legal or academic discussions where a subject (person or entity) is being detained or retained for a specific purpose. Example: "The subject was held for questioning regarding the incident that occurred last night."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Another hearing on the subject was held on Thursday.

The New York Times

In 1992, a conference on the subject was held at a scientific center in Erice, Sicily.

The New Yorker

She dropped a piece of food into one of the bowls while the subject was held by the owner at a distance of 2 2.5 m from her.

Behavioral and Brain Functions

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

He said: "The subject was holding a handgun.

Independent

The subject was holding the hack squat position while the frequency of the vibratory stimulus was around to 24 Hz.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

The United States' positions, and the less vocal resistance of other arms exporting countries, including China and Iran, deadlocked discussions in 2006, when the last full meetings on the subject were held here.

The New York Times

Retro-cues enable this more complete preparation because the specific features for that trial are already known to the subject, being held in VSTM.

Plosone

At the beginning of each trial, the right forearm of the subjects was held at right angles to the upper arm.

Cerebral Cortex

Gazing at a portrait of artist Rubens Peale, the authors observe that the subject is holding one of the most beautiful flowerpots they've ever seen.

The Guardian - Books

Its camera is just O.K.— it's a 5-megapixel job with decent color and clarity, as long as the subject is holding still.

The New York Times - Tech

In a letter to the owners, Pedretti said he was convinced Leonardo had painted the face, while two assistants were responsible for a palm leaf the subject is holding.

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "subject was held", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what the subject is. For example, "The subject of the experiment was held in a controlled environment" leaves no ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "subject was held" when an active voice construction is more appropriate and direct. For instance, instead of "The meeting subject was held by the committee", use "The committee held a meeting on the subject".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "subject was held" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject (person, object, or topic) received the action of being held. Ludwig confirms that it's grammatically correct, fitting into various contexts as shown in the examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "subject was held" is a grammatically sound passive construction that Ludwig confirms. It communicates that a subject (which could be a person, object, or topic) was subjected to the action of being held. While not overly frequent, it finds appropriate use in scientific, news, and formal settings. When employing the phrase, it's best practice to ensure clarity about the subject, and writers should choose active voice when more direct language is preferred.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

individual was detained

Replaces "subject" with "individual" and "held" with "detained", focusing on detention.

person was retained

Substitutes "subject" with "person" and "held" with "retained", implying a more formal keeping.

the prisoner was confined

Replaces subject with prisoner to denote confinement

the item was retained

Changes the subject to "item" suggesting an object instead of a person is held.

the topic was considered

Modifies the sentence to address a "topic" and replaces "held" with "considered" to imply discussion.

matter was discussed

Swaps the subject for "matter" and replaces "held" with "discussed" to refer to a discussion.

an event took place

Alters the sentence to concern an "event" and replace "held" with "took place".

a meeting occurred

Changes the focus to a "meeting" and replaces "held" with "occurred".

a conference was conducted

Specifies the gathering as a "conference" and uses "conducted" instead of "held".

the data was stored

Changes the subject to "data" and uses "stored" to indicate preservation.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "subject was held" to be more active?

You can use active alternatives such as "[Someone] detained the subject", "[The institution] retained the person", or, depending on the context, "[The committee] held a meeting on the subject".

What does "subject was held" imply in a research context?

In research, "subject was held" often implies that the participant was kept in a specific condition or location for observation or experimentation. For example, "The "subjects were held" on a leash by their owner/handler".

Is "subject was held" formal or informal language?

"Subject was held" is generally considered neutral to formal language, often found in legal, academic, or news contexts. Simpler alternatives may be preferred in casual conversation.

When is it better to use "a meeting was held" instead of "subject was held"?

Use "a meeting was held" when referring specifically to the occurrence of a meeting or conference. "Subject was held" is appropriate when describing someone or something being kept in a state or location. The "subjects were held" individually in open-mesh metal cages.