was barred from entry

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was barred from entry" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone was prohibited from entering a place or event. Example: "Due to safety concerns, the individual was barred from entry to the concert venue."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Protests by right-wing groups were held at exhibitions after liberation and he was barred from entry to the United States.

Independent

The group has expressed support for the far-right Polish priest Jacek Międlar, who was barred from entry by the Home Office for alleged antisemitism and Islamophobia.

The Guardian

"He was barred from entry to the chamber on the instructions of the Speaker because, it was alleged, his blood was blue," said his son.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

But he could be barred from entry for 10 years.

The Washington Post

There's nothing worse than having your goods stopped at customs, or being barred from entry.

The Guardian

Immigrants cannot legally be issued a visa if they are barred from entry.

The New York Times

Anyone who is found to have a criminal history, mental illness or other indications of risk is barred from entry.

The Washington Post

His supporters, including the New York-based American Civil Liberties Union, began to wonder whether their friend and colleague was being barred from entry for political reasons.

The New York Times

And independent monitoring organizations say when they have tried to inspect Apple's suppliers, they have been barred from entry — on Apple's orders, they have been told.

The New York Times

And when I and several other Sinn Féin leaders were elected to the Assembly in 1982 we were barred from entry to Britain.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human Rights Watch said there were other cases of journalists being refused press accreditation, and human rights activists have also been barred from entry.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was barred from entry" when you want to emphasize a formal or official denial of access. This phrase often suggests a rule, law, or policy is being enforced.

Common error

Avoid using "was barred from entry" in informal contexts. Simpler phrases like "wasn't allowed in" or "was kept out" are more appropriate for casual conversation or less formal writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was barred from entry" functions as a passive construction, indicating that someone experienced the action of being prohibited from entering a specific place or event. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable. The subject of the sentence is the one who receives the action.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was barred from entry" is a grammatically correct passive construction used to describe someone being officially prohibited from entering a place. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is usable in written English and is generally used in neutral contexts, particularly in news and media. While semantically appropriate, it should be used with care in informal contexts and simpler synonyms should be considered. Although this phrase doesn't appear very frequently across different sources, it is used with a very high source quality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was denied entry

Uses a more direct verb, "denied", instead of the passive "was barred".

was refused admission

Replaces "entry" with "admission", implying a formal process of being allowed in.

was prohibited from entering

Uses "prohibited" to emphasize the formal restriction.

was excluded from entering

Focuses on the act of being kept out, highlighting the exclusion.

was not allowed to enter

A simpler and more direct way of expressing the same idea.

had entry revoked

Implies that entry was previously granted but then taken away.

was turned away at the entrance

More descriptive, specifying the location where entry was denied.

was prevented from gaining access

Emphasizes the prevention of access, focusing on the obstacle.

faced a ban on entering

Highlights the ban itself, shifting the focus from the action to the rule.

was kept out

An informal way of saying "was barred from entry".

FAQs

How to use "was barred from entry" in a sentence?

You can use "was barred from entry" to describe situations where someone is officially prohibited from entering a place. For example: "The journalist "was barred from entry" to the press conference."

What can I say instead of "was barred from entry"?

You can use alternatives like "was denied entry", "was refused admission", or "was prohibited from entering" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "was barred to entry" instead of "was barred from entry"?

No, the correct phrasing is "was barred from entry". The preposition "from" is essential to properly connect "barred" with "entry".

What are the implications of being "barred from entry" to a country?

Being "barred from entry" to a country means that a person is legally prohibited from entering that country. This can result from various reasons such as criminal history, security concerns, or immigration violations. If someone "is barred from entry" to the United States, they will need to apply for a waiver to travel to the U.S. in the future.