was bet

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was bet" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to convey a past action related to betting, but it lacks proper grammatical structure. Example: "The amount that was bet on the game surprised everyone."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Slim was bet.

The New Yorker

It was bet el, the "house of God".

Encyclopedia Britannica

The final game was bet. the Westsiders and the Celtics; the Westsiders won.

The New Yorker

The ladies' final was bet. the Brazilian Maria Bueno and Carole Caldwell Graebner of Cleveland.

The New Yorker

$3,103 879 was bet on the Preakness here in OTB shops.

The New Yorker

Roughly $80 million was bet legally in Nevada on Sunday's Super Bowl, a record amount.

The New York Times - Sports

By 2001, 85percentt of the total amount wagered in North America was bet off track.

The New York Times - Sports

A total of $35.1 million was bet nationwide on the 1995 Belmont day card.

The New York Times - Sports

"When all we had was BET, they had to be everything to everybody," Mr. Rodgers said.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

That's Bet Hatikva.

The New Yorker

I'm betting the same!

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For formal writing, replace "was bet" with more precise alternatives like "was wagered" or "was staked" to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on passive constructions like "was bet". Instead, consider active voice alternatives, such as "people bet" or "bettors wagered", to make your writing more engaging and direct.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was bet" functions as a passive construction of the verb "bet", indicating that an action (placing a bet) was performed on a subject. Ludwig examples show it commonly used in contexts describing amounts wagered on events.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

97%

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "was bet" is frequently encountered, especially in news and media contexts, Ludwig AI points out that it is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. Alternatives such as "was wagered" or "was staked" are recommended for more formal writing. Though its common usage might suggest a degree of acceptability in informal settings, it's generally advisable to opt for grammatically sound alternatives to maintain clarity and credibility in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was wagered

Replaces "bet" with a more formal synonym, maintaining the passive voice and conveying the action of placing a bet.

was staked

Similar to "was wagered", emphasizing the act of putting something at risk on an outcome.

money was placed

Focuses on the action of putting money down, maintaining the passive voice.

funds were committed

Highlights the allocation of funds towards a specific bet or outcome.

a gamble was made

Emphasizes the decision to gamble, with "gamble" as a noun.

an amount was risked

Focuses on the risk involved, highlighting the potential loss.

expectations were high

Shifts the focus from the act of betting to the anticipation of a particular outcome.

it was anticipated

Implies a general expectation or prediction, without explicitly mentioning betting.

a prediction was made

Focuses on the act of forecasting an outcome, which could be related to betting.

it was deemed certain

Expresses a high degree of confidence in a particular result, removing the element of wagering.

FAQs

What's a grammatically correct alternative to "was bet"?

Instead of "was bet", you can use phrases like "was wagered" or "was staked", which are more formal and grammatically sound.

How can I use "was bet" in a sentence?

While "was bet" is grammatically questionable, it frequently appears in passive voice constructions. Consider replacing it with phrases such as "the money was wagered on the game."

What's the difference between "was bet" and "was wagered"?

"Was wagered" is a more formal and grammatically correct alternative to "was bet". While both convey the same meaning related to placing a bet, "was wagered" is preferable in formal writing.

Is it okay to use "was bet" in informal writing?

While not grammatically ideal, "was bet" might be acceptable in very informal contexts. However, even in informal settings, using alternatives like "was wagered" or "people bet" can improve clarity and credibility.