was divided between

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was divided between" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something is shared or allocated among two or more parties or groups. Example: "The inheritance was divided between the three siblings, ensuring that each received an equal share."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Thereafter his career was divided between China and Hollywood.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The rotation was divided between clinical duties and research duties.

Stanford University

The work of the bass was divided between two soloists.

The Guardian - Books

India was divided between the Hindus and the Moslems.

The New York Times

In 1948, the city was divided between Israel and Jordan.

The Economist

The pantheon was divided between the gods and demons.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Each session was divided between case study presentations followed by breakout groups.

Harvard University

Our time there was divided between two communities: Aprenat and Guavio Alto.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

In the 18th century it was divided between the généralités, or intendances, of Paris and Soissons.

Britannica

And henceforth the world was divided between potential slaves and potential slavemasters.

The Guardian

From 1948 to 1967 Jerusalem was divided between Jordanian and Israeli control.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was divided between", ensure that the entities being divided are clearly defined and that the recipients are explicitly stated to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "between" when dividing something among more than two entities. While sometimes acceptable in informal contexts, it's grammatically more precise to use "among" when referring to three or more recipients.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was divided between" functions as a passive verb phrase indicating the distribution, separation, or allocation of something among two or more entities. It's commonly used to describe how resources, responsibilities, or territories are shared. Ludwig AI confirms this is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Encyclopedias

22%

Academia

19%

Less common in

Science

6%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was divided between" is a grammatically sound and frequently used construction to describe the distribution or allocation of something among multiple entities. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's versatile and appears across diverse contexts, from news and media to academic and encyclopedic sources. When writing, ensure clarity by explicitly stating what is being divided and among whom. While traditionally "between" referred to two entities, its use with more than two is now common. For strict grammatical precision, especially in formal writing, using "among" is recommended when referring to three or more recipients. Alternatives like "was split among" can provide stylistic variation while maintaining semantic equivalence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was split among

Focuses on the action of splitting something into multiple parts among recipients.

was allocated to

Emphasizes a formal distribution or assignment of something.

was apportioned among

Implies a fair and proportional distribution.

was shared by

Highlights the collaborative or joint usage of something.

was distributed among

Stresses the act of giving out portions to various recipients.

was separated into

Focuses on the physical act of separation into distinct groups.

was partitioned between

Indicates a more formal or legal division, often of land or territory.

was segmented into

Suggests division into categories or groups based on specific criteria.

was cleaved into

Implies a sharp or decisive division.

was bifurcated between

Specifically denotes a division into two distinct branches or parts.

FAQs

How can I use "was divided between" in a sentence?

Use "was divided between" to indicate how something was split or shared among two or more entities. For example, "The inheritance "was divided between" the three siblings".

What's a synonym for "was divided between"?

Alternatives include "was split among", "was allocated to", or "was apportioned among", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When should I use "among" instead of "between" after "was divided"?

Use "among" when the division is among three or more entities. "Between" is traditionally used for only two entities, though its use with more than two is sometimes accepted. For example, "The prize money was split among the four winners".

Is it correct to say "was divided between" more than two items?

While traditionally "between" refers to two items, it's now commonly used with more than two, especially when specifying relationships between each item. However, for strict grammatical correctness, use "among" when dividing something across more than two items. Using "was split among" is a suitable alternative in such cases.