was criticised for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'was criticised for' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that someone was the object of criticism. For example: "The mayor was criticised for not doing enough to relieve poverty in the city."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He was criticised for that.

The Economist

He was criticised for bowing to her.

The Guardian

It was criticised for this, but in retrospect was justified.

The Economist

Like Benedict, he was criticised for lacking administrative talent.

The Economist

In the 1980s, Japan was criticised for protectionist trade policies.

The Economist

But then he was criticised for turning football middle class.

Independent

Another was criticised for showing too much skin.

The Economist

Her husband was criticised for letting her campaign.

The Economist

The Goddard inquiry was criticised for not getting on.

The Guardian - Opinion

But she was criticised for failing to set a deadline.

The Guardian

Miliband was criticised for double standards by Clegg aides.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer active voice when possible. Instead of "The project was criticized for its delays", use: "Critics criticized the project for its delays"

Common error

Avoid using "was criticised for" without specifying the source or nature of the criticism. Saying "The policy was criticised" is less effective than "The policy was criticised by economists for its potential impact on inflation."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was criticised for" functions as a passive voice construction used to indicate that a subject received negative feedback or disapproval. As evidenced by Ludwig, this expression is commonly used to attribute criticism to a subject without explicitly naming the source of the criticism.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Wiki

20%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was criticised for" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to indicate that someone or something received negative feedback or disapproval. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability and widespread use. The phrase is versatile and appears across various contexts, including news, media, and academic writing, though it is most frequent in news and media sources. When using this phrase, it is important to clearly specify the reason for the criticism to avoid ambiguity. Alternative phrases such as "faced criticism for" or "came under fire for" can be used to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

faced criticism for

Replaces "was criticised" with "faced criticism", emphasizing the act of receiving criticism.

drew flak for

Uses the idiom "drew flak" which implies strong criticism or opposition.

received disapproval for

Replaces "criticism" with a more formal "disapproval", suggesting a more official or serious context.

came under fire for

Uses the expression "came under fire", indicating intense or harsh criticism.

was rebuked for

Replaces "criticised" with "rebuked", suggesting a formal and often public reprimand.

met with censure for

Uses "censure" to imply official condemnation or strong disapproval.

was taken to task for

Emphasizes that someone was held accountable and criticised for their actions.

attracted condemnation for

Highlights that the action led to public condemnation or strong disapproval.

garnered negative feedback for

Uses "negative feedback" to replace criticism, sounding more neutral.

incited disapproval for

Focuses on the act of causing disapproval through a particular action.

FAQs

How can I use "was criticised for" in a sentence?

You can use "was criticised for" to indicate that someone or something received negative feedback or disapproval. For example, "The company "was criticised for" its environmental practices".

What are some alternatives to "was criticised for"?

Alternatives include phrases like "faced criticism for", "came under fire for", or "received disapproval for depending on the context".

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "was criticised for"?

While "was criticised for" is grammatically correct, using the active voice can make your writing more direct and engaging. For instance, instead of "The decision was criticised", you could say "Critics criticised the decision".

What's the difference between "was criticised for" and "was accused of"?

"Was criticised for" implies disapproval or negative evaluation, while "was accused of" suggests a formal charge or allegation. For example, someone "was criticised for" a poor performance, but someone "was accused of" fraud.