was commended

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was commended" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone received praise or recognition for their actions or achievements in the past. Example: "She was commended for her outstanding performance during the project presentation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

For this concept of mind, Anaxagoras was commended by Aristotle.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Last week, Patient Opinion was commended in the New Statesman new media awards.

The Guardian - Tech

The film, which featured Elwes as the father, was commended for its honest portrayal of addiction.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Runner-up was Geraldine McCaughrean's Stop the Train, and Sharon Creech's Love That Dog was commended.

The Guardian

Owen, who was commended posthumously for inflicting "considerable losses on the enemy," was no pacifist.

The New York Times

Its crowdsourcing app GuardianWitness was commended and the website's fashion team was also nominated.

The Guardian

It was commended by the judges for its "fantastic" opportunity for all agenda.

The Guardian

The use of online media was commended and showed "huge potential".

The Guardian

Her recent Jools Holland performance was commended by some, derided by others.

The Guardian - Music

In 1970, Connie was commended for "21 years' loyal service" to the company.

The Guardian - Business

Clarke's entry "Kimberley in Crisis" was commended by judges for its "new, youth-centric online" approach.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was commended" when you want to highlight that someone received formal recognition or praise for a specific action or achievement.

Common error

While "was commended" is grammatically correct, it's often too formal for casual conversation or informal writing. Opt for simpler phrases like "was praised" or "got a thumbs up" in those situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was commended" functions as a passive verb phrase. It indicates that the subject of the sentence received praise or recognition. Ludwig provides examples showing it used to highlight achievements and positive contributions, consistent with Ludwig AI indicating grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Academia

22%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Science

9%

Encyclopedias

7%

Formal & Business

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was commended" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive verb phrase that indicates someone received praise or recognition. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and appropriate for formal contexts, appearing most commonly in news, academic, and wiki sources. While versatile, it's best reserved for situations where a degree of formality is desired, with simpler alternatives available for casual conversation. Using it effectively involves highlighting the specific action or achievement that earned the commendation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

received praise

Emphasizes the act of getting praise.

was lauded

Implies formal and high praise.

was praised

A more straightforward way of saying someone received positive feedback.

earned accolades

Highlights the achievement of earning special recognition.

was honored

Suggests a formal ceremony or event where the person was recognized.

was recognized

Focuses on the act of being officially acknowledged.

was celebrated

Suggests a joyous acknowledgement.

was given credit

Highlights acknowledgement for an achievement or contribution.

was appreciated

Emphasizes the feeling of gratitude for one's actions.

was given a thumbs up

An informal expression to show approval.

FAQs

What does "was commended" mean?

The phrase "was commended" means that someone received praise or official recognition for something they did.

What can I say instead of "was commended"?

You can use alternatives like "was praised", "was lauded", or "received praise" depending on the context.

How do I use "was commended" in a sentence?

Use "was commended" to indicate that a person or thing received positive recognition. For example, "The student was commended for their outstanding research".

Is "was commended" formal or informal?

"Was commended" is generally considered a formal expression. In informal settings, it's better to use simpler alternatives such as "was praised" or "got positive feedback".