to be spared

USAGE SUMMARY

"to be spared" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a situation where someone is not made to suffer a negative outcome, e.g. "I'm thankful to have been spared from the storm's destruction."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

No expense was to be spared.

The New York Times

Few seem to be spared.

The New York Times

McDonnell himself asked to be spared prison.

The Washington Post

Be happy to be spared the details.

The New York Times

But Greenwood's family wants Williams's life to be spared.

The Washington Post

We can hope to be spared the impact of politics.

The New York Times

And we are at least to be spared Tony Blair.

The Guardian - Opinion

The first places to be spared are those in which extraction is most difficult or hazardous.

The Guardian - Opinion

And Mr. Bernanke, easy to denounce but too capable to be spared, comfortably won reappointment.

The New York Times

Julie explains: "It felt we were so close to destruction and so lucky to be spared.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Nothing but the great god – frontline service – is to be spared.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to be spared" to convey a sense of relief or fortune in avoiding an undesirable situation. For example, "We were lucky to be spared the worst of the storm."

Common error

Avoid using "to be spared" when you actually mean "to spare" (active voice). For example, instead of "The city hoped to be spared resources", write "The city hoped they would spare resources."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to be spared" functions as a passive infinitive verb phrase. It typically indicates a desire or instance where someone or something avoids an undesirable outcome. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness of the phrase, reinforcing its grammatical validity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to be spared" is a versatile expression used to denote the avoidance of a negative experience or outcome. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used. As demonstrated by Ludwig, its prevalence across authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian underscores its reliability in formal and informal contexts. When using the phrase, be sure not to confuse it with its active voice counterpart, "to spare". While mostly neutral, remember the context and choose synonyms like "to be excused" or "to be relieved of" depending on the specific sentiment you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to be excused

Indicates release from an obligation or duty, similar to being spared from a negative experience.

to be exempted

Signifies being freed from a rule or requirement, akin to being spared from its effects.

to be relieved of

Highlights the removal of a burden or negative condition, aligning with the sense of being spared.

to be delivered from

Suggests rescue or liberation from a difficult situation, comparable to being spared its consequences.

to be rescued from

Emphasizes being saved from danger or harm, similar to being spared from its impact.

to be immune to

Indicates resistance to a negative influence or effect, resembling the concept of being spared.

to be protected from

Highlights being shielded or guarded against harm, similar to being spared from its effects.

to avoid

Focuses on actively preventing something negative from happening, similar to being spared by avoiding the negative thing.

to escape

Denotes successfully evading a harmful situation, resembling the concept of being spared from its consequences.

to avert

Signifies preventing something bad from occurring, which aligns with the idea of being spared the negative results.

FAQs

How can I use "to be spared" in a sentence?

You can use "to be spared" to express that someone or something has avoided a negative experience or consequence. For instance, "The coastal town was fortunate "to be spared" the full force of the hurricane".

What does "to be spared" mean?

"To be spared" means to avoid or escape something unpleasant or harmful. It implies a sense of relief or good fortune in not having to endure a negative experience.

What's a synonym for "to be spared"?

Synonyms for "to be spared" include "to be excused", "to be exempted", or "to be relieved of". Each of these carries a similar connotation of avoiding something negative.

Is it correct to say "I hope to be spared the details"?

Yes, it is correct. Saying "I hope "to be spared" the details" expresses a desire not to have to hear or deal with unpleasant or unnecessary information.