was appointed

USAGE SUMMARY

'was appointed' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are talking about someone being chosen or selected for a role or job. For example: "John was appointed to the position of President of the company yesterday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A czar was appointed.

The New York Times

Kolesnikov was appointed his deputy.

The New Yorker

Nicolas Grunitzky was appointed premier.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He was appointed by Pres.

Encyclopedia Britannica

One was appointed for him.

The New York Times

He was appointed anyway.

The Guardian - Books

She was appointed a CBE in 2001.

Independent

In 1999 Olins was appointed CBE.

The Guardian

In 2000, he was appointed state climatologist.

The New York Times

In 1993 he was appointed OBE.

Independent

Davis, 36, was appointed by Mayor Koch.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was appointed" when you want to emphasize the act of being formally assigned to a position or duty. It's often followed by the specific role or title, providing clarity and context.

Common error

Avoid replacing "was appointed" with an active voice construction that obscures who did the appointing. For example, instead of saying "The committee appointed her", if the focus is on her, keep the passive voice: "She was appointed by the committee".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was appointed" functions as a passive verb phrase. It indicates that the subject of the sentence received an appointment or was officially assigned to a role. Ludwig examples demonstrate its common usage in conveying formal assignments. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Encyclopedias

27%

Wiki

23%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

3%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was appointed" is a grammatically correct and very common passive verb phrase used to indicate that someone has been officially assigned to a role or position. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples across various contexts. Predominantly found in News & Media, Encyclopedias, and Wiki sources, the phrase maintains a neutral to professional register. When using "was appointed", focus on clarity and consider alternatives like "was designated" or "was named" for slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was named

A more concise way of saying someone received a role or position.

was designated

Emphasizes the act of designating or officially naming someone to a role.

was selected

Highlights the choice made among multiple candidates.

was chosen

Similar to "was selected", but can imply a less formal selection process.

received an appointment

Focuses on the act of receiving the appointment rather than the act of being appointed.

assumed the role

Emphasizes the act of taking on the responsibilities of a position.

was installed

Suggests a formal ceremony or process of placing someone in a position.

took office

Highlights the commencement of duties rather than the appointment itself.

was commissioned

Implies an official authorization or order, often in a military or artistic context.

was elected

Indicates selection through a voting process.

FAQs

How do I use "was appointed" in a sentence?

Use "was appointed" to indicate that someone has been officially assigned to a position or role. For example, "She was appointed CEO of the company." The phrase is typically followed by the position to which the person was assigned.

What's a more formal alternative to "was appointed"?

While "was appointed" is already quite formal, you could use phrases like "was designated" or "was commissioned" depending on the specific context to convey an even higher degree of formality.

Is it always necessary to specify who did the appointing when using "was appointed"?

No, it is not always necessary. If the context makes it clear who did the appointing, or if that information is not important, you can omit it. For example, "He was appointed minister" is perfectly acceptable without specifying who appointed him.

What's the difference between "was appointed" and "was elected"?

"Was appointed" implies that someone was selected for a position by an authority or group, while "was elected" indicates that someone was chosen through a voting process. The key difference lies in the method of selection.