was contacted

USAGE SUMMARY

"was contacted" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to state that someone was contacted by someone else, or that someone made contact with someone else. For example: "The customer was contacted by the customer service representative."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Morris was contacted, and became increasingly bemused by the investigation.

The Guardian

Loughnane was contacted for comment.

The Guardian

Hartsuyker was contacted for comment.

The Guardian

Onasanya was contacted for comment.

The Guardian

Mirabella was contacted for comment.

The Guardian

Facebook was contacted for comment.

The Guardian - Tech

Disney was contacted but declined to comment.

The Guardian - Film

Trump's campaign was contacted for comment.

The Guardian

Wells was contacted soon after that.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

The Australian Hotels Association was contacted for comment.

The Guardian

"I was contacted by the KGB.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was contacted" in the passive voice when the actor initiating the contact is unknown or less important than the recipient.

Common error

Avoid using active voice when the passive voice with "was contacted" is more appropriate to emphasize the recipient of the contact, not the initiator.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was contacted" functions as a passive verb phrase. It indicates that the subject of the sentence received communication from an unspecified or less important actor. This construction is commonly used in news reports and formal communication. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was contacted" is a passive verb phrase used to indicate that someone received communication, often emphasizing the recipient rather than the initiator. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and frequently used across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While suitable for neutral and professional settings, its passive construction makes it less common in informal communication. If the context requires emphasizing the initiator of the communication, consider alternatives like "reached out to" or "contacted". Be mindful of using passive versus active voice for best clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was approached by

Emphasizes the act of someone initiating contact with a specific purpose.

was reached by

Focuses on the act of successfully making contact with someone.

received communication from

Emphasizes the reception of communication, differing from the initiation of contact.

heard from

Indicates receiving news or a message from someone.

was informed by

Highlights the act of receiving information from someone.

was notified by

Implies a formal communication of information.

was alerted by

Focuses on being warned or notified about something by someone.

was in touch with

Suggests an ongoing communication or connection.

had correspondence with

Implies a formal exchange of messages.

was connected with

Focuses on being linked or introduced to someone.

FAQs

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

Use "was contacted" to indicate that someone received communication. For example: "The victim "was contacted" by the police."

What are some alternatives to "was contacted"?

Alternatives include "was reached by", "heard from", or "was approached by", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "I contacted him" or "He was contacted"?

The choice depends on the focus. "I contacted him" emphasizes the initiator of the contact (active voice), while "He "was contacted"" emphasizes the recipient (passive voice).

What's the difference between "was contacted" and "got in touch with"?

"Was contacted" implies that someone else initiated the communication. "Got in touch with" implies that you yourself started the communication.