was expected to be

USAGE SUMMARY

"was expected to be" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something was anticipated or expected to happen or be a certain way. For example, "The test scores were expected to be higher than they actually were."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Savard was expected to be hospitalized overnight.

The New York Times

He was expected to be released Saturday.

The New York Times

Their presence was expected to be temporary.

The New Yorker

Attendance was expected to be about 20,000.

The New York Times

The match was expected to be tight.

The Guardian - Sport

He was expected to be released soon.

The New York Times

It was expected to be Adele's year.

The New York Times - Arts

Shawkan was expected to be freed Monday, his attorney said.

The Washington Post

The inquiry was expected to be completed by 2017.

The Guardian

Holmes was expected to be sentenced on Friday.

The Guardian

Braxton was expected to be arraigned on Monday.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was expected to be" to clearly indicate an anticipation or forecast that existed in the past. Ensure the context provides clarity on who held the expectation and what it was based on.

Common error

While "was expected to be" is grammatically sound, overuse can lead to passive voice. When possible, rephrase to use active voice for a more direct and engaging tone. For example, instead of "The report was expected to be released", consider "They planned to release the report".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was expected to be" functions as a verbal phrase expressing a past expectation or anticipation. It sets the stage for describing an outcome or state that was predicted or anticipated.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was expected to be" is a versatile phrase used to describe past expectations or predictions. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usability. It's commonly found in news and media, but also appears in scientific contexts. While it's a reliable phrase, be mindful of overusing passive voice. Consider alternatives like "was anticipated to be" or "was projected to be" to add nuance. By understanding its function and purpose, you can effectively use "was expected to be" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was anticipated to be

Replaces "expected" with "anticipated", suggesting a slightly more formal or predictive tone.

was projected to be

Uses "projected" instead of "expected", implying a forecast or calculated prediction.

was predicted to be

Substitutes "expected" with "predicted", emphasizing a forecast based on available information.

was supposed to be

Replaces "expected" with "supposed", indicating an obligation or plan that may not have been fulfilled.

was slated to be

Uses "slated" instead of "expected", implying that something was officially scheduled or planned.

was planned to be

Emphasizes that the situation was part of an explicit plan.

was intended to be

Focuses on the intention behind the expectation.

was designed to be

Highlights the purposeful design or creation with a specific expectation.

was thought to be

Shifts the focus to a belief or opinion regarding the expectation.

was believed to be

Similar to "was thought to be", but suggests a stronger level of confidence or widespread acceptance.

FAQs

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

Use "was expected to be" to indicate a past expectation or prediction. For example, "The concert "was expected to be" a sell-out event".

What are some alternatives to "was expected to be"?

Alternatives include "was anticipated to be", "was projected to be", or "was predicted to be", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "was expecting to be" instead of "was expected to be"?

"Was expecting to be" implies someone was in the process of expecting something, while ""was expected to be"" indicates that something was generally anticipated or predicted by others.

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

"Was supposed to be" often implies a plan or obligation that might not have been fulfilled, while ""was expected to be"" simply indicates a general anticipation or prediction.