was held shut

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was held shut" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a state where something is being kept closed or secured, often referring to doors, containers, or similar objects. Example: "The door was held shut by a heavy piece of furniture, preventing anyone from entering the room."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The zip was held shut by a common travel-style Yale padlock through holes in two zip fasteners.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

If a child's mouth is being held shut, sometimes the man's fingers can be bitten hard.

The New York Times - Health

I ran to another door that was being held shut by two other warders and I managed to shoulder it open.

The Guardian

The DNA barrel, which acts as a container, is held shut by special DNA latches that can recognize and seek out combinations of cell-surface proteins, including disease markers.

Harvard University

If, when the subject has become completely dark-adapted, one eye is held shut and the other exposed to a bright light for a little while, it is found that, whereas the dark-adapted eye retains its high sensitivity, that of the light-exposed eye has decreased greatly; it requires another period of dark adaptation for the two eyes to become equally sensitive.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Ms. Rich, who is 19 and one of the island's 350 year-round residents, said that she and her friends "take it trailing through the woods" -- which somewhat explains why the driver's side door is broken and must be held shut with a rope.

The New York Times - Travel

The trapdoor is held shut if a molecule collides from the left, but is opened by a fast collision from the right, so that a pressure difference develops.

SEP

The muscles that close the jaws are much more massive and powerful than the ones that open them, and a crocodilian's jaws can be held shut by a person fairly easily.

Wikipedia

Make sure the bag is held shut and shake until all the crickets have been covered in the powder, they may not move as much as the shaking may have dazed them but this makes no difference to the reptiles.

WikiHow

A man was holding it shut.

The Guardian - Tech

Now Agathocles, having surprisingly defeated the Carthaginians, was holding them shut up within their walls; but fortune, alternating victories with defeats, humbled the victors equally with the vanquished.

University of Chicago

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing how something is secured, specify the method or object used to hold it shut. For example: "The door "was held shut" by a heavy chain."

Common error

Avoid using ""was held shut"" when an active voice construction is more appropriate and direct. For example, instead of "The door "was held shut" by John", consider "John held the door shut".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was held shut" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating a state where something is being kept closed. Ludwig confirms its correct and usable form. It describes the result of an action, rather than who or what performed the action.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

15%

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was held shut" is a grammatically sound passive construction used to describe something being kept closed, as verified by Ludwig. While correct, consider using the active voice for more direct writing. This phrase is versatile, appearing in news, encyclopedias, scientific articles, and general content, with a neutral register suitable for varied contexts. Remember to clearly specify what is preventing the item or structure from opening. Consider alternatives like "was kept closed" or "remained closed" to suit your specific writing needs.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was kept closed

Focuses on the action of 'keeping' something closed, rather than the state of being 'held'.

was secured closed

Emphasizes the act of securing something to keep it closed.

was fastened shut

Highlights the method of fastening used to keep something closed.

was sealed shut

Indicates that something was closed tightly, as if with a seal.

was blocked from opening

Shifts the focus to preventing the action of opening.

was prevented from opening

Similar to 'blocked from opening', but with a slightly more formal tone.

was forced shut

Implies that some force was used to close and keep it closed.

was wedged shut

Suggests that something was used as a wedge to keep it closed.

remained closed

Indicates a state of being closed without specifying how it got that way.

stayed shut

Similar to 'remained closed', but slightly more informal.

FAQs

How can I use "was held shut" in a sentence?

You can use ""was held shut"" to describe something being kept closed by a particular force or mechanism. For example: "The box "was held shut" by a strong latch".

What are some alternatives to "was held shut"?

You can use alternatives like "was kept closed", "was secured closed", or "remained closed" depending on the context.

What is the difference between "was held shut" and "was kept closed"?

""Was held shut"" implies an active force or mechanism preventing opening, while "was kept closed" simply states that something remained in a closed state, without specifying the reason.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "was held shut"?

While ""was held shut"" is grammatically correct in passive voice, consider using active voice for more direct and concise writing. For instance, instead of "The door "was held shut" by me", try "I held the door shut".