was expected by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was expected by" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone anticipated or predicted an event or outcome, often in a passive construction. Example: "The results of the experiment were expected by the researchers to confirm their hypothesis."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A decision was expected by Friday.

The New York Times - Sports

The rise was expected by the markets.

The Economist

An initial report was expected by April.

The Guardian

He said a resolution was expected by noon today.

The New York Times - Sports

A turn to the north-northwest was expected by Sunday.

The New York Times

An exciting, vigorous competition was expected by now.

The New York Times - Sports

The Fed's announcement was expected by most investors.

The New York Times

The split was expected by Wall Street, particularly because Mr. Icahn advocated for it last year.

The New York Times - Tech

The company was expected by some analysts to report about $420 million in sales.

The New York Times

Closing arguments were scheduled for next Wednesday, and a ruling was expected by March 21.

The New York Times

Still, the end of interest-free financing was expected by many to bring steep declines.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that the subject of the sentence clearly identifies what "was expected", and the "by" phrase specifies who held the expectation.

Common error

Avoid using "was expected by" when you actually want to state who did the expecting in an active voice. For instance, instead of saying "The results were expected by the team", consider "The team expected the results" for a more direct statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was expected by" functions as a passive construction used to indicate that a particular outcome or event was anticipated or predicted by someone. The phrase highlights that an expectation existed and attributes it to a specific entity. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Reference

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was expected by" is a versatile phrase functioning as a passive construction to indicate anticipation or prediction. As highlighted by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically sound and broadly applicable, particularly in news, scientific, and business contexts. When using "was expected by", make sure the context clearly specifies who held the expectation and what they expected. While it's a correct phrase, be mindful of contexts where active voice may sound more natural. If a more formal tone is required, you can replace "expected" with "anticipated" or "predicted".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was anticipated by

Replaces "expected" with "anticipated", offering a slightly more formal tone while maintaining the same meaning.

was predicted by

Substitutes "expected" with "predicted", emphasizing the forecasting aspect.

was foreseen by

Emphasizes the ability to see or know something in advance; similar but highlights foresight.

was anticipated to be

Adds "to be" which can be used to describe the state/quality/condition of something

was presupposed by

Indicates something taken for granted or assumed beforehand by someone.

was looked forward to by

Conveys a sense of positive anticipation or eagerness.

was considered likely by

Focuses on the probability or likelihood as perceived by someone.

was deemed probable by

Similar to 'considered likely', but with a slightly more formal tone.

had been anticipated by

Changes the tense to past perfect, emphasizing that the anticipation occurred before another point in the past.

was in line with expectations

Shifts the focus to agreement with expectations rather than direct anticipation by someone.

FAQs

How can I use "was expected by" in a sentence?

Use "was expected by" to show that someone predicted or anticipated an outcome. For example, "The increase in sales "was expected by" the marketing team after the new campaign launch".

What's a more formal alternative to "was expected by"?

For a more formal tone, you could use "was anticipated by". For example, "The change in policy "was anticipated by" the board of directors".

How does "was expected by" differ from "had expected"?

"Was expected by" indicates a passive construction where the expectation is acted upon, while "had expected" is an active construction showing who held the expectation. For instance, "The announcement "was expected by" everyone" versus "Everyone had expected the announcement".

Can I use "was expected by" in informal writing?

While grammatically correct, "was expected by" might sound slightly formal for casual conversations. In informal contexts, consider simpler phrases like "people thought" or "everyone knew".