was done

USAGE SUMMARY

"was done" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe something that has been accomplished, finished, or completed. For example: "The painting was done quickly and with great skill."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But what was done was done.

The New Yorker

And that was done".

The New Yorker

Nothing was done casually".

The New York Times - Arts

I was done for.

The New York Times - Travel

"Justice was done".

The New York Times

Suddenly I was done.

The New Yorker

He was done.

The New York Times

Daniel was done waiting.

The New Yorker

The deal was done.

The New York Times - Sports

"I was done".

The New York Times - Sports

Jonathan was done, too.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was done" to describe completed actions in the past, especially when the actor is unknown or unimportant. For instance, "The experiment was done carefully" emphasizes the action's manner rather than who did it.

Common error

Avoid using "was done" when the active voice is clearer and more direct. For example, instead of "The report was done by John", write "John completed the report" to emphasize John's role.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was done" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that an action has been completed. It emphasizes the action itself rather than the actor. As Ludwig AI points out, it's a grammatically sound phrase commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Encyclopedias

5%

Social Media

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was done" is a grammatically correct and very commonly used passive construction that indicates the completion of an action. According to Ludwig AI, it serves to emphasize the action itself rather than the actor. Found frequently in news, media, and scientific writing, it maintains a neutral register suitable for a variety of contexts. While the phrase is appropriate in many situations, consider if active voice is more impactful. Alternatives such as "was completed" or ""had been done"" offer similar meanings with slight nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was completed

A more concise phrasing using the passive voice.

had been completed

Uses "had been" to emphasize that the completion occurred in the past before another event.

has been finished

Indicates a more recent completion with "has been".

was accomplished

Suggests a successful or significant completion.

was performed

Indicates an action that was carried out.

was executed

Implies a more formal or planned completion.

was achieved

Focuses on the result or outcome of the completion.

was realized

Implies that something became a reality or was made tangible.

was taken care of

Suggests that something was handled or resolved.

was sorted out

Implies a problem was resolved or a situation was clarified.

FAQs

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

The phrase "was done" indicates the completion of an action in the past, particularly when the doer is unknown or unimportant. For example, "The assignment "was done" on time".

What are some alternatives to "was done"?

You can use alternatives like "was completed", "was finished", or "was executed" depending on the context. Each carries slightly different nuances.

Which is correct, "the task was done" or "the task is done"?

"The task was done" indicates past completion, while "the task is done" implies present completion. Choose based on when the action occurred and its relevance to the present. For example, the task "is done" now.

What's the difference between "was done" and "had been done"?

"Was done" refers to a simple past action, whereas "had been done" indicates an action completed before another point in the past. The phrase the work "had been done" before the deadline.