was first held

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was first held" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate the initial occurrence of an event or activity in the past. Example: "The conference was first held in 1995 and has since grown in popularity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The tournament was first held there in 1896.

The New York Times

The Hambletonian was first held in 1926 at Syracuse, N.Y.

Encyclopedia Britannica

An Australian Henley at Melbourne was first held in 1904.

Britannica

It was first held in 1962 and has been repeated every four years since then.

Yale University

The LAD Program in Georgia was first held in January 2016.

Stanford University

The Spengler Cup was first held in 1923 and is the world's oldest professional hockey tournament.

The New York Times - Sports

It was first held as an Olympic medal event in 1948 at St . Moritz Switzerland.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The Palio was first held in 1482 as a civic celebration.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The Telluride Film Festival was first held in 1974, at the Sheridan Opera House.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The biggest team event in chess is the biennial Olympiad, which was first held in 1924.

The New York Times

Many elite players have competed in it since it was first held in 1946.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was first held" to clearly indicate the initial occurrence or establishment of an event, meeting, or competition. This phrase is effective when you want to emphasize the historical context or beginning of something.

Common error

Avoid using "was first held" excessively in a single text. Vary your language by using active constructions like "The organizers initiated the event in..." to maintain reader engagement and avoid monotonous phrasing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was first held" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the initial occurrence of an event, activity, or position in the past. It's used to specify when something began, often in a formal or historical context. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Encyclopedias

20%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Science

2%

Formal & Business

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was first held" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote the beginning of an event, meeting, or competition. Ludwig's analysis of numerous examples demonstrates its prevalence in news, encyclopedias, and academic writing. While versatile, varying sentence structure will improve writing quality. Remember to maintain a formal tone and consider context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

began in

A simpler way to state when something started, lacking the formality of "held".

was started in

A straightforward and informal way of saying something began.

originated in

Focuses on the place or source of origin rather than the act of being held.

commenced in

More formal synonym for 'began', suitable for official or historical contexts.

was launched in

Suggests a public or significant start, often used for products or campaigns.

was inaugurated in

Implies a formal or official beginning, often for institutions or projects.

was initiated in

Emphasizes the start of a process or action, often with the implication of planning.

debuted in

Implies a first public appearance or performance.

was established in

Highlights the creation or founding of something, often an organization or system.

saw its inception in

More verbose and emphasizes the conceptual beginning of something.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "was first held" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives like "commenced in", "was inaugurated in", or "was established in", depending on the specific context.

What's a simpler way to say "was first held"?

Simpler alternatives include phrases like "began in" or "started in". These options are less formal but still convey the same meaning.

Is "was first held" the same as "was initially held"?

Yes, "was first held" and "was initially held" are largely interchangeable. Both indicate the first instance of an event or activity. The choice between them often comes down to stylistic preference.

When should I use "was first held" instead of "originated in"?

Use "was first held" when referring to an event or activity that is organized and takes place, whereas "originated in" is more appropriate when discussing the source or place of origin of something.