was excused from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was excused from" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone has been granted permission to be absent from a duty or obligation. Example: "She was excused from attending the meeting due to a family emergency."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

KOLB EXCUSED FROM CAMP Buffalo Bills quarterback Kevin Kolb was excused from training camp because of a death in his family.

The New York Times - Sports

Kahlil alone was excused from putting food on the table.

The New Yorker

She said I was excused from further service.

The New York Times

He was excused from Friday's trip to Fort Myers.

The New York Times - Sports

Igawa was excused from Friday's workout so he could try to contact family members.

The New York Times - Sports

Al Leiter was excused from Shea Stadium early on Friday night.

The New York Times - Sports

He was excused from Monday morning's practice, but did not show up for the afternoon session.

The New York Times - Sports

Father Eichner denied that Megan was excused from any school activities except the receiving of sacraments.

The New York Times

Elliott, who had family issues to attend to, was excused from much of the Jets' minicamp.

The New York Times - Sports

Alas, the public were denied a comedy mistrial after Lee was excused from service.

The Guardian - Music

(As a Canadian, he told me, he was excused from the elocution lessons).

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was excused from" to clearly indicate that someone has been officially permitted to not attend or participate in something. This can range from jury duty to a team practice, depending on the context.

Common error

Avoid using "excused from" in active voice constructions. For example, it's incorrect to say "The teacher excused John from class" if you mean "John was excused from class by the teacher". The passive voice emphasizes that someone received permission or exemption.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was excused from" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that someone received permission or exemption from an obligation, duty, or activity. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriate usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Sports

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was excused from" is a grammatically correct and widely used expression to indicate that someone received permission or exemption from a duty or obligation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is most commonly found in News & Media and Sports contexts. While alternatives like "was exempted from" and "was relieved of" exist, "was excused from" provides a clear and generally applicable way to communicate that someone was officially excused. Remember to use the passive voice correctly to avoid common errors, and consider the context to choose the most appropriate synonym. The widespread use and authoritative sources vouch for its reliability and acceptance in English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was exempted from

This alternative suggests a formal release from an obligation or requirement.

was relieved of

This implies the removal of a burden or responsibility.

was released from

This suggests a formal or official discharge from a duty.

was dispensed from

This alternative suggests a deviation from the norm or an exception to a rule.

was allowed to miss

This indicates permission to be absent without negative consequences.

was granted leave from

This suggests formal permission for absence, often in professional settings.

was given permission to skip

This implies informal allowance to not attend or participate.

was authorized to abstain from

This suggests formal approval to refrain from participating.

was not required to attend

This means that attendance was optional or unnecessary.

was let off from

This indicates a less formal release from an obligation.

FAQs

How is "was excused from" used in a sentence?

"Was excused from" is used to indicate that someone received permission not to attend or participate in an activity. For example, "She "was excused from" jury duty due to a medical condition".

What's a formal alternative to "was excused from"?

A more formal alternative is "was exempted from". This implies an official exemption from a duty or requirement.

Is it correct to say "He excused from the meeting"?

No, the correct phrasing is "He "was excused from" the meeting". The passive voice is necessary to convey that he received permission to be absent.

What's the difference between "was excused from" and "was absent from"?

"Was excused from" implies permission to be absent, while "was absent from" simply states that someone was not present, without indicating permission or reason.