was approached by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'was approached by' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe when one person asked another person to do something or when someone came to another person who was not expecting it. For example, "The company was approached by another business about a potential merger."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He was approached by a young couple.

The New Yorker

He was approached by the DEC last year.

Independent

Mr Moore was approached by a constable.

The Guardian

Jackson was approached by a reporter.

The New York Times - Sports

After his undercover experience, Mr. Bagdikian was approached by Bradlee.

The Washington Post

Weir was approached by The Weekly Beast for comment.

The Guardian

Soon after, Mr. Dudley was approached by professional artist management.

The New York Times

He said he was approached by President Hester(of N.Y.U).

The New Yorker

They said their commander was approached by an American adviser.

Independent

He was approached by a lot of private-equity guys".

The New York Times - Magazine

Every few steps, he was approached by someone offering help.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was approached by", ensure the subject is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of "The problem was approached by", specify "The problem was approached by the research team".

Common error

Avoid using "was approached by" with overly general or abstract subjects. Instead of saying "The idea was approached by many", specify who approached the idea, such as "The idea was approached by many investors".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was approached by" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject of the sentence received the action of being approached. This is supported by Ludwig AI analysis, confirming its grammatical correctness and frequent use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was approached by" is a common and grammatically correct passive voice construction used to describe someone initiating contact with another person or entity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it appears frequently across various contexts, particularly in News & Media. While versatile, ensure clarity by specifying the subject of the approach and avoiding overly general subjects. For more formal contexts, consider alternatives such as "was contacted by" or "received an inquiry from". Understanding these nuances will enhance your writing and communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was contacted by

Replaces "approached" with a more general term for making contact.

was reached out to by

Emphasizes the effort made to initiate contact.

was asked by

Indicates a direct request or question was posed.

received an inquiry from

Highlights the nature of the contact as a request for information or assistance.

was invited by

Suggests a formal invitation or offer to participate.

was presented with

Shifts focus to the offer or opportunity that resulted from the approach.

was solicited by

Implies a more formal or active attempt to gain attention or business.

was spoken to by

Focuses on the act of communication itself.

had a meeting with

Highlights the formal nature of the contact and the discussion that occurred.

was engaged by

Indicates a more prolonged or formal involvement.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "was approached by" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "was contacted by", "was solicited by", or "received an inquiry from depending on the context.

What does "was approached by" mean?

The phrase "was approached by" means that someone initiated contact with someone else, typically to ask for something, offer something, or start a conversation.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "was approached by"?

While "was approached by" is in the passive voice, its appropriateness depends on the context. If the actor is important, use the active voice (e.g., "The recruiter approached her"). If the recipient is more important, the passive voice works well (e.g., "She was approached by a recruiter").

What are some common scenarios where "was approached by" is used?

"Was approached by" is commonly used when discussing job offers, business deals, requests for assistance, or unexpected encounters. For example, "He was approached by a talent scout" or "The company was approached by investors".