was contacted by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was contacted by" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone received communication from another person or entity. Example: "She was contacted by the hiring manager regarding her job application."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I was contacted by the KGB.

The Guardian

Fadil said she was contacted by Fede.

The Guardian

Before long, Ms. Luo was contacted by several magazines.

The New York Times

Halfway across the sound, Everitt was contacted by radio.

The New Yorker

Almost immediately, Moshe was contacted by the broker.

The New York Times - Magazine

She was contacted by a French children's magazine.

The Washington Post

Rudfurd's Home Repairs was contacted by John Smithfield to perform an estimate on porch repairs.

Harvard University

The PAC says it was contacted by 7,500 scientists this midterm election.

Yale University

She was contacted by a man who identified himself as Barry Richards.

Harvard University

After she was contacted by Snowden in 2013, she tightened her security yet another notch.

The New York Times - Magazine

About a week later, Conroy told the Times, he was contacted by the speaker's office.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was contacted by", ensure the context clearly identifies both the recipient and the initiator of the communication.

Common error

Avoid using "was contacted by" when an active voice construction is more direct and clearer. For instance, instead of "The company was contacted by the reporter", consider "The reporter contacted the company".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was contacted by" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject of the sentence received communication from someone or something else. Ludwig confirms that it is a valid grammatical structure. For example, "She was contacted by a French children's magazine."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was contacted by" is a common and grammatically correct passive voice construction used to indicate that someone received communication. As shown by Ludwig, it is frequently employed in news and media, academic writing, and scientific reports. When using this phrase, ensure clarity about both the recipient and initiator of the communication. While grammatically sound, consider whether an active voice construction would be more direct. Alternatives include "received communication from" or "was reached out to by". Remember the Ludwig AI analysis indicates the sentence is usable in written English and provides the real world examples, which gives you further insight in using the expression in the proper way.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was reached out to by

Emphasizes the act of reaching out, often used in a business context.

was approached by

Highlights a direct and often intentional method of communication.

received communication from

Focuses on the receipt of the communication, rather than the initiator.

was informed by

Emphasizes the imparting of knowledge or facts.

was notified by

Focuses on the delivery of information or a formal announcement.

heard from

More informal, implies a casual exchange of information.

was in touch with

Implies an ongoing connection or dialogue.

got in touch with

Describes the act of initiating communication.

was interviewed by

Specifically refers to a formal questioning process.

was telephoned by

Specifies the means of communication as a phone call.

FAQs

How to use "was contacted by" in a sentence?

Use "was contacted by" to indicate that someone received communication from another person or entity. Example: "She "was contacted by" the hiring manager regarding her job application".

What can I say instead of "was contacted by"?

You can use alternatives like "received communication from", "was reached out to by", or "was approached by" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "was contacted by" or "contacted"?

Both are correct, but they have different meanings. "Was contacted by" is passive and emphasizes the receiver, while "contacted" is active and emphasizes the initiator.

What's the difference between "was contacted by" and "heard from"?

"Was contacted by" is more formal and implies a deliberate effort to communicate, while "heard from" is more informal and suggests a casual exchange or update.