was formally open

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was formally open" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was officially available or accessible at a certain time in the past. Example: "The museum was formally open to the public starting in June 2020."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Environment Minister John Griffiths said: "This report shows that even before the path was formally open it was attracting many thousands of visitors and providing a real economic boost to coastal towns in Wales.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

And yesterday, the Roger Deakin Archive was formally opened.

The Guardian - Books

A new surgical amphitheatre at Johns Hopkins Hospital was formally opened on October 5, 1905.

Yale University

The Pompidou Centre was formally opened on January 31 , 1977 by the French president, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Christened the Queen Elizabeth II Great Court, it was formally opened to the public in December 2000.

Encyclopedia Britannica

When the Center was formally opened, the plaques had all been removed.

The New Yorker

Gartok was formally opened to foreign trade following the Lhasa Treaty (between the United Kingdom and Tibet) of 1904.

Britannica

It's been in the Lonely Planet guide since long before the zone was formally opened to tourists.

The New York Times

This week, for example, a new copper-and-gold mine was formally opened at Kansanshi in the North Western province.

The Economist

Outside Mandela's office is an exhibition about his life that was formally opened by president, Jacob Zuma, only last month.

The Guardian

The Sperrgebiet National Park, covering some 10,000 square miles (26,000 square km), was gazetted in December 2008 and was formally opened in February 2009.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was formally open" to indicate an official opening or start of operations, particularly when a formal ceremony or announcement accompanied the event.

Common error

Avoid using "was formally opened" when "was formally open" is intended, the latter emphasizes the state of being open, while the former implies the act of opening.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was formally open" functions as a stative verb phrase, indicating a state of being open or accessible in an official capacity. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Encyclopedias

23%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was formally open" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression, as confirmed by Ludwig. It serves to denote the official commencement or accessibility of an entity, event, or process. As revealed by Ludwig's analysis, it's most frequently observed within news and media contexts, followed by encyclopedias and academic writing, indicating a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, ensure that a formal or official aspect accompanied the opening. Alternative phrases include "was officially inaugurated" or "was declared open", offering slight nuances in meaning. One frequent error is using the construction "was formally opened" when the emphasis is on the 'state' of being open, instead of the 'action' of opening.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was opened officially

Reorders the words while retaining the original meaning.

was declared open

A more direct way of stating something is now accessible.

was formally inaugurated

Synonymous with "was officially inaugurated", emphasizing ceremony.

was officially inaugurated

Emphasizes the ceremonial aspect of the opening.

was officially launched

Focuses on the commencement of an activity or product.

was unveiled officially

Often used for new products or structures being revealed for the first time.

was officially established

Highlights the creation and setup of something.

was formally established

Synonymous with "was officially established", stressing formal creation.

commenced operations officially

Highlights the start of operational activities in a formal manner.

was made accessible

Focuses on the accessibility aspect, implying something is now usable.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "was formally open"?

You can use alternatives like "was officially inaugurated", "was officially launched", or "was declared open" depending on the context.

How to use "was formally open" in a sentence?

Use "was formally open" to describe the official commencement of operations or accessibility of something, such as "The museum was formally open to the public starting in June 2020".

Which is correct, "was formally open" or "was officially open"?

Both phrases are correct and convey a similar meaning. The choice depends on the desired emphasis, with "was formally open" highlighting the formal aspect.

What's the difference between "was formally open" and "was opened"?

"Was opened" simply indicates something became accessible, while "was formally open" implies an official or ceremonial opening. For example, a shop can be "was opened" without a ceremony, but a new parliament session "was formally open" by the Queen.