was complained about

USAGE SUMMARY

'was complained about' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something or someone that has received complaints, either officially or from many people. For example, "The restaurant's poor hygiene standards were complained about by many customers."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The use of verbal referral without any written documentation was another practice at PHC facilities that was complained about by caretakers in our study.

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"He was complaining about his writer.

The New Yorker

It's like she was complaining about my real apartment".

The New York Times - Arts

"I was complaining about the service," the man said.

The New Yorker

As she remembers it, everyone was complaining about work.

The New York Times - Magazine

He was complaining about how stressed it made him.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Not that he was complaining about the interview topics.

The New York Times - Sports

All I did was complain about a traffic light".

The New York Times

"All I did was complain about not running.

The New York Times - Health

That's just what I was complaining about.

BBC

Pellegrini claimed Pardew was "complaining about every decision".

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was complained about", ensure the context clearly indicates who made the complaints and what they were complaining about for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "was complained about" without specifying the subject of the complaints. Instead of saying, "The issue was complained about", specify what issue it was. E.g, "The product's high price was complained about"

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was complained about" functions as a passive construction, indicating that a subject received complaints. As confirmed by Ludwig, this construction is grammatically sound and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was complained about" is a grammatically correct but infrequent passive construction used to indicate that something has received complaints. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this is a valid expression. While it appears in both news and scientific contexts, its use is relatively rare compared to alternatives like "received complaints" or "drew criticism". When using this phrase, ensure the subject of the complaints is clearly identified for maximum clarity. Overall, while grammatically sound, consider alternative phrases for broader appeal and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

received complaints

This alternative directly states that complaints were received, offering a more straightforward expression.

was criticized

This alternative uses a more direct passive form of criticism, focusing on the act of criticizing.

drew criticism

This phrase highlights that something attracted negative commentary or disapproval.

met with disapproval

This indicates that something encountered a lack of endorsement or agreement.

faced objections

This suggests that explicit opposition or disagreement was encountered.

generated negative feedback

This alternative emphasizes the production of adverse responses or opinions.

was unfavorably received

This highlights that something was not welcomed or regarded positively.

was frowned upon

This implies disapproval or a lack of acceptance, often on moral or ethical grounds.

caused dissatisfaction

This focuses on the result of something, indicating that it led to unhappiness or discontent.

sparked controversy

This suggests that something ignited debate or disagreement among people.

FAQs

How can I use "was complained about" in a sentence?

You can use "was complained about" to indicate that something received negative feedback or formal grievances. For example, "The new policy "was complained about" by the employees because it reduced their benefits".

What are some alternatives to "was complained about"?

Alternatives include "received complaints", "drew criticism", or "faced objections", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "was complained about" grammatically correct?

Yes, "was complained about" is grammatically correct. It is a passive construction indicating that something was the recipient of complaints.

What is the difference between "was complained about" and "was criticized"?

"Was complained about" typically implies a formal or expressed grievance, while "was criticized" can refer to more general expressions of disapproval, even if not formally lodged as a complaint. The level of formality is also different.