was attached to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was attached to" is correct and usable in written English.
You may use it when referencing a person or thing that has been connected to another person or thing in some way. For example: "The document was attached to the email before it was sent."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

No triumphalism was attached to the winner.

The Guardian - Opinion

Fitzgerald was attached to one of them.

The New Yorker

The light was attached to his weapon.

The New Yorker

"I was attached to this little enterprise.

The New Yorker

Wool, was attached to Clinton's brigade during the Sullivan expedition.

Cornell University

Great importance was attached to this difference at the time.

Yale University

And 10,000 years ago, England was attached to Europe.

The Washington Post

d'Etudes Politiques, and was attached to the University of Paris.

The New Yorker

The soldier was attached to the First Marine Expeditionary Force.

The New York Times

Later, he was attached to MacArthur's headquarters in Luzon.

The New York Times

I was attached to my mother, but not really connected.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was attached to" to clearly indicate a connection or affiliation between two entities, whether physical or abstract. For instance, 'The sensor was attached to the device' or 'Great importance was attached to his discovery'.

Common error

Avoid using "was attached to" when you mean something was separated or removed. Ensure you're conveying the correct relationship of connection, not disconnection.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was attached to" primarily functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that something or someone was connected or affiliated with something else. Ludwig examples confirm this usage across various domains. The auxiliary verb 'was' combines with the past participle 'attached' to form this passive construction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

58%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was attached to" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate a connection or affiliation between entities. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread use across diverse fields like science, news, academia, and general communication. Its frequency is "Very common", indicating that it's a standard way to express relationships, whether physical or abstract. Be mindful to use it when you explicitly mean to show connection, not separation, and consider contextually appropriate alternatives like "was connected to" or "was assigned to" for nuanced meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was connected to

Replaces 'attached' with 'connected', emphasizing a direct link or relationship.

was linked to

Substitutes 'attached' with 'linked', highlighting a connection that might imply a causal or sequential relationship.

was assigned to

Changes 'attached' to 'assigned', suggesting a formal allocation or placement.

was affiliated with

Replaces 'attached' with 'affiliated', indicating a formal association or membership.

was joined to

Uses 'joined' instead of 'attached', conveying a sense of union or combination.

was coupled with

Substitutes 'attached' with 'coupled', emphasizing a pairing or association, often reciprocal.

was bound to

Changes 'attached' to 'bound', suggesting a strong or obligatory connection.

was incorporated into

Replaces 'attached' with 'incorporated', indicating inclusion as part of a larger whole.

was appended to

Uses 'appended' rather than 'attached', suggesting an addition or supplement.

was fixed to

Substitutes 'attached' with 'fixed', highlighting a secure or permanent connection.

FAQs

How can I use "was attached to" in a sentence?

Use "was attached to" to show a connection or affiliation. For example, "The file "was attached to" the email" or "The soldier "was attached to" a specific unit".

What are some alternatives to saying "was attached to"?

Consider using alternatives such as "was connected to", "was linked to", or "was assigned to" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "was attached with" instead of "was attached to"?

While "attached with" is sometimes used, ""was attached to"" is generally more grammatically sound and widely accepted, especially in formal writing.

What's the difference between "was attached to" and "became attached to"?

"Was attached to" implies a completed action of connecting something, while "became attached to" suggests a process or change over time, indicating the development of a connection.