was help with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was help with" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to express assistance provided in a specific context, but it lacks clarity and proper grammatical structure. Example: "The project was help with by several team members who contributed their expertise."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The next thing he asked her for was help with some talking points.

The New York Times

On the traveller side, the most commonly offered barter (37%) was help with communication projects – photo and video, translations or social media.

The Guardian - Travel

IN late 1999, when Bertina Ceccarelli moved from California to New York to work for an Internet startup called GiftCertificates.com, and bought a one-bedroom apartment in Murray Hill, among the first things she needed was help with the outdated kitchen.

The New York Times

Mentorship programmes for entrepreneurs were proposed, as was help with job mobility.

BBC

As part of the school's internship program, he volunteered for the Hope Housing project, which helps families in the poorest sections of Washington, D.C. "Working with families in these low-income areas, I saw that what they really needed was help with their legal issues, and that's what turned me on to the law," he notes.

Los Angeles Times

What these students needed to be included was help with clinical skills, plus social and emotional support.

BMC Medical Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

He was helping with the wallpaper once.

The Guardian - Sport

The library was helped with a substantial grant by the National Heritage Memorial Fund.

The Guardian - Books

One was helping with traditional investing.

TechCrunch

What I really need is help with those complex patients".

The New York Times - Health

And secondly, there will also be help with sandbags which could help prevent further flooding".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "was help with" in formal writing. Instead, use grammatically correct alternatives such as "was helped with" or "received help with" to ensure clarity and accuracy.

Common error

Using "was help with" often results from a misunderstanding of passive voice construction. Ensure the verb "help" is correctly conjugated (e.g., "was helped") to maintain grammatical correctness and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was help with" functions as an incorrect attempt to express passive assistance or support. Examples found by Ludwig indicate this construction is often used when trying to convey that someone or something received assistance, but the grammar is flawed.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

29%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was help with" is an incorrect grammatical construction. While it attempts to convey that assistance was provided, it should be avoided in formal writing. As indicated by Ludwig, more appropriate alternatives include "was helped with", "was assisted with", or "received help with". The appearance of this phrase in news and media sources suggests it might be encountered in informal contexts, but correct usage is essential for clear and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was aided in

Focuses on the act of being helped, using a more concise and direct phrasing.

received assistance with

Emphasizes the act of receiving assistance, shifting focus from the provision of help to its reception. It is more formal.

had assistance in

Indicates possession of assistance, suggesting a resource that was available.

was given assistance with

Similar to "was provided help for", but with a slightly more passive tone.

obtained support for

Highlights the acquisition of support, suggesting a more formal or structured arrangement.

was provided help for

Emphasizes the act of providing help, focusing on the source of assistance.

benefited from help with

Highlights the positive outcome of receiving help, adding an element of advantage gained.

was facilitated by

Suggests that something was made easier or more possible through assistance.

had support concerning

Highlights that support was given related to a topic.

gained assistance regarding

Focuses on acquiring help and points out it was in regard of a topic.

FAQs

Is "was help with" grammatically correct?

No, "was help with" is not grammatically correct. The correct phrasing would be "was "was helped with"" or "received help with".

What's a better way to say "was help with"?

Instead of "was help with", you can say "was assisted with", ""was helped with"", or "received help with".

How can I use "help" correctly in the passive voice?

To use "help" in the passive voice, ensure it's conjugated correctly. For example, "The project "was helped with" by the team", not "The project was help with by the team".

What is the difference between "was helped with" and "was help with"?

"Was helped with" is grammatically correct, using the past participle of 'help'. "Was help with" is an incorrect construction that should be avoided.