was cancel

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "was cancel" is not grammatically correct.
The correct way to write this sentence in written English is "was canceled." Example: The meeting was canceled due to harsh weather conditions.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

What he did do was cancel a "victory rally" in Ohio -- although it really was not canceled; it was just rebranded as a gathering to support the storm relief effort.

Los Angeles Times

A sympathetic Sharon said all she could do was cancel Uverse, and it would take two days to clear the system before the computer allowed her to restore DSL.

Huffington Post

It's unclear how the 5th Circuit judges think Healey's claims are moot, when all Judge Kinkeade did was cancel the deposition of Healey set for December 13; he didn't expressly stop all the other discovery that was part of Healey's motion.

Huffington Post

His last book was Cancel Your Own Goddam Subscription, a wicked 2007 anthology of the most torrid exchanges from the National Review's letters pages.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The trip was canceled.

The New York Times

Finally, it was canceled.

The New York Times

The conference was canceled.

The New York Times - Science

His deportation was cancelled.

The New Yorker

Air traffic was canceled.

The New York Times

The tour was cancelled.

The New Yorker

The appeal was canceled.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct passive form, "was cancelled", when indicating that something was terminated or nullified. For example, "The meeting was cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances".

Common error

Do not use "was cancel"; it is grammatically incorrect. The correct formulation requires the past participle form of the verb: "was cancelled".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was cancel" is grammatically incorrect. It attempts to use the past tense of the verb "to be" with the base form of "cancel". According to Ludwig AI, the correct form is "was cancelled", using the past participle to form the passive voice.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was cancel" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. The correct form is "was cancelled", which uses the past participle of the verb "cancel" to form the passive voice. As Ludwig AI points out, while there are a few examples of "was cancel" in use, they are likely errors, and the correct phrasing should always be preferred. Alternatives like "was called off" or "was terminated" can also be used depending on the context. It is important to maintain grammatical correctness in both formal and informal writing, and using the correct passive form ensures clarity and credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was cancelled

This is the grammatically correct passive voice form of "cancel".

got cancelled

Uses "got" as an auxiliary verb to form the passive voice, offering a slightly more informal tone.

has been cancelled

Changes the tense to present perfect passive, indicating a cancellation that has occurred and has relevance now.

was called off

Replaces "cancel" with the phrasal verb "call off", providing a synonym with similar implications.

was scrubbed

Replaces "cancel" with "scrubbed", mainly used for events or launches.

was terminated

Uses a more formal synonym for "cancel", suitable for official or business contexts.

was invalidated

This implies that something was made void or without effect.

was rescinded

Meaning to revoke, repeal, or take back.

was revoked

Meaning to officially cancel a decree, decision, or promise.

did not happen

This provides a simple, direct way of saying something was cancelled.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "was cancel"?

The grammatically correct way to phrase this is "was cancelled". Using the past participle "cancelled" makes the sentence grammatically sound.

When should I use "was cancelled" in a sentence?

Use "was cancelled" to indicate that something was previously scheduled or planned but has now been terminated or called off. For example, "The event was cancelled due to the weather".

What are some alternatives to saying "was cancelled"?

Alternatives include "was called off", "was terminated", or "did not happen", depending on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is there a difference between "was cancelled" and "has been cancelled"?

"Was cancelled" indicates a past action with no direct connection to the present, while "has been cancelled" implies the cancellation has a present relevance or impact. For example, "The game was cancelled yesterday" versus "The game has been cancelled, so we have no plans for the afternoon".