the message was sent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the message was sent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a communication has been dispatched or delivered, often in contexts related to messaging or notifications. Example: "After clicking the send button, I received a confirmation that the message was sent successfully."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Tech

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

The message was sent July 7. Hey Baby, I do enjoy planning for the future.

The New York Times

The message was sent to Rahman.

The Washington Post

The message was sent 5,000 times.

The New York Times

By the time the message, was sent out to Capt.

The New York Times

The message was sent on June 5 , 2001

The New Yorker

The message was sent to Uber users statewide.

The Guardian - Tech

Jordan earned a technical for the move, but the message was sent.

The New York Times

It wasn't an epidemic, but the message was sent: don't let it start being that".

The New York Times - Sports

The message was sent to Al Manar, a television station operated by Hezbollah.

The New York Times

That makes it appear that the message was sent from a valid domain name.

The New York Times

The message was sent on May 4 , 2001 about two weeks before the report was released.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "the message was sent", ensure the context clearly indicates the method of sending (e.g., email, text, verbally) if it's not immediately obvious.

Common error

While grammatically sound, overuse of the passive voice (" he message was sent"") can obscure who sent the message. When clarity is crucial, consider rephrasing to the active voice: "John sent the message."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the message was sent" functions as a statement indicating that a communication has been dispatched. This usage is supported by Ludwig, which confirms its correctness and provides numerous examples of its use in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

12%

Tech

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the message was sent" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to indicate that a communication has been dispatched. Ludwig's analysis of numerous examples demonstrates its widespread use across various contexts, primarily in news and media, but also in academic and technical writing. While versatile, clarity can be enhanced by specifying the sender and medium of the message. Alternatives include "the communication was dispatched" or "the information was transmitted", depending on the desired level of formality and specificity. It is important to consider whether an active or passive voice is most appropriate for the intended message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the communication was dispatched

Replaces "message" with a more formal term "communication" and "sent" with "dispatched", indicating a formal sending action.

the information was transmitted

Substitutes "message" with "information" and "sent" with "transmitted", implying a transfer of data or details.

the email was delivered

Specifies the medium as "email" and uses "delivered" instead of "sent", highlighting successful delivery.

the notification was issued

Changes "message" to "notification" and "sent" to "issued", suggesting a formal announcement.

the signal was broadcast

Replaces "message" with "signal" and "sent" with "broadcast", implying a widespread dissemination.

the word was conveyed

Uses "word" instead of "message" and "conveyed" for "sent", emphasizing the act of transferring a verbal message.

the memo was circulated

Specifies "memo" as the type of message and uses "circulated" in place of "sent", indicating distribution among a group.

the dispatch was made

Replaces the whole expression by the mention of an action.

the intelligence was relayed

Changes "message" to "intelligence" and "sent" to "relayed", focusing on the transfer of secret information.

the order was given

Specifies "order" as the message type and "given" instead of "sent", implying an instruction.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "the message was sent" to be more specific?

To be more specific, you could say "the email was sent", "the text message was sent", or "the letter was dispatched". Using more specific language helps to clarify the method of communication.

What are some alternatives to "the message was sent" that sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you could use alternatives like "the communication was dispatched" or "the information was transmitted".

Is it better to use active or passive voice when describing that a message was sent?

It depends on the context. Passive voice ("the message was sent") is useful when the sender is unknown or unimportant. Active voice ("John sent the message") is better when you want to emphasize the sender.

What is the difference between "the message was sent" and "the message was delivered"?

"The message was sent" indicates that the sending process started. "The message was delivered" implies that the message successfully reached its intended recipient. Therefore, "the message was delivered" suggests a complete and successful communication.