was cut short

USAGE SUMMARY

"was cut short" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used to indicate that something was terminated or ended before it was supposed to. For example, "Her vacation was cut short due to a family emergency."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

His hair was cut short.

The New Yorker

His life was cut short by alcoholism.

Encyclopedia Britannica

His career was cut short by tuberculosis.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The interview was cut short.

The Guardian - Opinion

But the conversation was cut short.

The New York Times

But the trip was cut short.

The New Yorker

"But that was cut short," he said.

The Washington Post

It was cut short by police.

The Guardian - Music

Unfortunately, my service was cut short.

The New York Times

"It was cut short in '99.

The New York Times - Sports

Her straight black hair was cut short.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To add more nuance, consider specifying who or what caused the shortening, such as "The meeting was cut short by the CEO's urgent phone call."

Common error

Avoid using "was cut short" when you mean to actively stop something yourself. For example, instead of "I was cut short the presentation", say "I cut the presentation short" or "I shortened the presentation".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was cut short" functions as a passive verb phrase. It indicates that something experienced a premature ending due to an external factor. Ludwig examples show that many different contexts accept "was cut short".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Academia

13%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was cut short" is a versatile and grammatically sound passive verb phrase used to describe events or periods that ended prematurely. According to Ludwig, the phrase is widely accepted and frequently encountered across diverse contexts, especially in news and media. Although it maintains a neutral register, writers should be mindful of active voice alternatives for clarity and impact. Understanding its usage patterns and common errors can help improve writing precision. Also, according to Ludwig AI, "was cut short" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English, often used to indicate that something was terminated or ended before it was supposed to.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was curtailed

Emphasizes the action of reducing or limiting the duration of something.

was terminated prematurely

Highlights the fact that the ending happened before the expected time.

was brought to an abrupt end

Focuses on the sudden and unexpected nature of the termination.

was ended abruptly

Similar to the previous one, emphasizing the suddenness of the ending.

was abbreviated

Focuses on shortening the duration or length.

was truncated

Implies a sharp and decisive cut, often used in technical contexts.

was left unfinished

Highlights the state of incompleteness after the interruption.

was prematurely stopped

Highlights the action of stopping before the expected time.

was halted early

Emphasizes the action of stopping something before its natural conclusion.

didn't last long

Focuses on the brief duration of the thing that was ended.

FAQs

How can I use "was cut short" in a sentence?

Use "was cut short" to describe an event or period that ended earlier than expected. For example, "The concert "was cut short" due to the storm" or "Her vacation "was cut short" because of an emergency".

What's a more formal way to say "was cut short"?

For a more formal tone, consider phrases like "was curtailed", "was terminated prematurely", or "was abbreviated". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "got cut short" instead of "was cut short"?

While "got cut short" is sometimes used in informal contexts, ""was cut short"" is generally considered more grammatically correct and suitable for formal writing. Using "was" maintains a clearer passive voice construction.

Can "was cut short" be used in an active voice?

No, ""was cut short"" is a passive construction. To express the same idea in active voice, you would need to rephrase the sentence, such as "The storm cut the concert short" or "An emergency cut her vacation short".