was expected to

USAGE SUMMARY

"was expected to" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is usually used to show an obligation or responsibility that someone had in the past. Example: The new manager was expected to bring major changes to the company's structure. In this sentence, "was expected to" shows that the manager had a responsibility to make changes in the company and it was something that people anticipated or required of him.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He was expected to survive.

The New York Times

Everyone was expected to survive, he said.

The New York Times

I was expected to hate him.

The New York Times

Unlike Stump, Sadie was expected to win.

The New York Times - Sports

Doctors said he was expected to survive.

The New York Times

Savard was expected to be hospitalized overnight.

The New York Times

Kiwanuka, 28, was expected to return.

The New York Times

He was expected to be released Saturday.

The New York Times

IT WAS expected to do well.

The Economist

Columbia was expected to match the grant.

The New York Times

That trial was expected to resume Saturday.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was expected to" when describing a past anticipation, duty, or planned event. Ensure the context clearly indicates who held the expectation and why.

Common error

Avoid using "was expected to" to describe current expectations. Use "is expected to" for present anticipations or "will be expected to" for future ones.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was expected to" serves as a passive construction indicating a past expectation or obligation. It describes an action or state that someone believed would occur or someone was required to fulfill, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

17%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was expected to" is a versatile phrase used to indicate a past expectation, obligation, or anticipated event. It is grammatically correct and very common, particularly in news and media, science, and formal business contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is accurate and widely used, making it a reliable choice for expressing past anticipations. When writing, it's crucial to use the correct tense and ensure the context clearly identifies the source and reason for the expectation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was anticipated to

This alternative replaces "expected" with "anticipated", implying a similar sense of foreknowledge or prediction, but can suggest a slightly more formal tone.

was predicted to

This alternative uses "predicted" instead of "expected", emphasizing a forecast or projection based on available information.

was supposed to

This alternative, using "supposed to", often implies a weaker expectation or a plan that may not have been fulfilled. It suggests more of an obligation.

was slated to

This alternative, with "slated", indicates something was scheduled or planned, adding a sense of formal arrangement.

was projected to

This alternative is most appropriate when referring to numerical estimates or forecasts that have been calculated.

it had been foreseen that

This alternative expresses a degree of anticipation, often associated with prior knowledge or insight.

it was believed that

This alternative highlights a general consensus or opinion, rather than a firm expectation.

the assumption was that

This alternative emphasizes that the event or action was based on something taken for granted, which can be less formal.

it was deemed likely that

This alternative suggests a formal assessment of probability, often in official contexts.

people had thought that

This alternative conveys an informal sentiment that something was considered possible, but might not have been officially planned.

FAQs

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

Use "was expected to" to describe a past anticipation, duty, or planned event. For example, "The company was expected to release its earnings report last week".

What can I say instead of "was expected to"?

You can use alternatives like "was anticipated to", "was predicted to", or "was supposed to" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "was expected to" or "is expected to" when referring to something in the past?

Use "was expected to" for past expectations and "is expected to" for current expectations. Using "is expected to" for something in the past would be grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "was expected to" and "was anticipated to"?

Both phrases convey a similar meaning, but "was anticipated to" often implies a stronger sense of foreknowledge or a more formal prediction than "was expected to".