was associated with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'was associated with' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are talking about someone or something having a connection with another person or thing. For example: "The actor was associated with many Hollywood films during his career."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

What rhetoric was associated with it?

The New York Times

Neither incident was associated with a fall.

The Guardian - Sport

Anyone who was associated with them got burned.

The New York Times

"It [flu] was associated with more deaths than we expected.

The Guardian

He was associated with Dr. Beebe for several yrs.

The New Yorker

The Center was associated with the University of Tokyo.

The New York Times

Music was associated with magic from its very beginnings.

The Guardian - Music

"Through an ad, something positive was associated with your product.

The New York Times

Success was associated with a number of factors.

The Guardian - Opinion

She remembered this taste was associated with cancer.

The New York Times - Sports

He was associated with newspapers throughout his life.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about correlations, use "was associated with" to avoid implying causation unless it is explicitly supported by evidence.

Common error

Avoid using "was associated with" when implying that one thing directly causes another without sufficient evidence. Instead, use language that clearly indicates a correlation or relationship, rather than a causal link. For example, instead of saying, "The rise in crime was associated with the new policy," say, "The rise in crime correlated with the implementation of the new policy."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was associated with" functions as a passive construction linking a subject to something it is connected to. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its ability to establish relationships across varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was associated with" is a versatile and grammatically sound construction used to indicate a connection or relationship between two subjects. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is correct and widely applicable in various contexts, particularly in news and media and science. While it's important to avoid implying causation without evidence, the phrase serves as a valuable tool for establishing associations and providing context in writing. Its neutral register makes it suitable for both formal and informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was linked to

Focuses on a direct connection or causal relationship.

was connected to

Emphasizes a bond or relationship between items or ideas.

was related to

Highlights a correlation or shared attribute.

was tied to

Indicates a strong dependency or unbreakable connection.

was affiliated with

Suggests a formal connection, such as membership or sponsorship.

was in conjunction with

Highlights that something is happening at the same time as another thing.

was in partnership with

Suggests cooperation or working together.

was in alliance with

Suggests a formal union or agreement.

had a connection to

Emphasizes a more indirect or abstract association.

was attributed to

Highlights a belief or assumption that one thing is the cause of another.

FAQs

How do I use "was associated with" in a sentence?

Use "was associated with" to show a connection between two or more things. For example, "His success "was associated with" hard work and dedication".

What are some alternatives to "was associated with"?

Alternatives include "was linked to", "was connected to", or "was related to", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to use "was associated with" to imply causation?

While "was associated with" indicates a relationship, it doesn't necessarily imply causation. To show direct cause and effect, use phrases like "was caused by" or "resulted from".

What is the difference between "was associated with" and "was correlated with"?

"Was associated with" suggests a general connection, while "was correlated with" implies a statistical relationship. You would use "was correlated with" when there's quantitative evidence of a relationship between two variables.