was forgotten

USAGE SUMMARY

"was forgotten" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
The phrase "was forgotten" is often used in the past tense to describe something that was not remembered or intentionally left out. For example: 1. "Her birthday was forgotten by all her friends." In this sentence, "was forgotten" is used to describe the past event of the protagonist's friends not remembering her birthday. 2. "The instructions for the project were clearly stated, but they were forgotten by one member of the team." In this sentence, "was forgotten" is used to describe the past action of one team member not remembering the instructions for the project. 3. "His talents as a musician were often overlooked and he was forgotten among his more famous peers." In this sentence, "was forgotten" is used to describe a past state of being overlooked and not given the attention or recognition he deserved.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Diplomatic decorum was forgotten.

The Economist

Mogao's existence was forgotten.

The New York Times - Arts

Soon this victory was forgotten.

The New York Times

After that, Méliès was forgotten.

The New Yorker

Everything else was forgotten.

The Guardian - Music

Then it was forgotten.

The New York Times

Good invention was forgotten.

The Guardian - Opinion

Practice was forgotten.

The New Yorker

All else was forgotten.

The Guardian - Books

Instead, she was forgotten.

The New York Times

Collins was forgotten.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was forgotten" when you want to emphasize that something was not remembered or intentionally neglected in the past. It highlights a passive state.

Common error

Avoid using "was forgotten" when you need the present perfect tense. For example, instead of "The key was forgotten", use "The key has been forgotten" if the action has relevance to the present.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was forgotten" functions as a passive voice construction indicating that the subject experienced an action (being forgotten) performed by an unspecified agent. As Ludwig AI confirms, the structure is grammatically sound and frequently employed across diverse writing contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was forgotten" is a common and grammatically correct passive construction that indicates something was overlooked or not remembered in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, its widespread use across various domains like news media, encyclopedias, and scientific articles suggests its versatility. Alternatives such as "was overlooked" or "slipped from memory" can provide nuanced meanings, but it's crucial to maintain the correct tense and context. By understanding its function and appropriate use cases, you can effectively convey that something experienced a state of being unremembered or neglected.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was overlooked

Focuses on the act of being missed or disregarded.

was neglected

Highlights a lack of attention or care.

slipped from memory

Focuses on the gradual loss of remembrance.

became a distant memory

Emphasizes that something now belongs to the past.

lost to time

Emphasizes the gradual disappearance due to the passage of time.

faded into obscurity

Highlights the loss of prominence and recognition.

was left behind

Focuses on the act of leaving something in the past.

passed into oblivion

Emphasizes complete disappearance from memory or knowledge.

was consigned to oblivion

Emphasizes a deliberate act of forgetting or ignoring.

vanished without a trace

Highlights the complete disappearance of something.

FAQs

How can I use "was forgotten" in a sentence?

You can use "was forgotten" to indicate that something was not remembered or was neglected. For example, "The appointment was forgotten due to the busy schedule."

What is an alternative to "was forgotten"?

Alternatives include "was overlooked", "slipped from memory", or "faded into obscurity" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "has been forgotten" instead of "was forgotten"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but they convey different meanings. "Was forgotten" indicates a completed action in the past, while "has been forgotten" implies the action happened in the past and continues to be forgotten in the present.

What's the difference between "was forgotten" and "is forgotten"?

"Was forgotten" refers to a past event, such as "The key code was forgotten". "Is forgotten" describes a current state, such as "The key code is forgotten by everyone now".