was looked

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was looked" is not correct and usable in written English as it is incomplete and lacks a proper context.
It may be intended to be part of a passive construction, but it requires a subject and a complete verb phrase to be meaningful. Example: "The project was looked at by the committee during the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"It was looked down upon".

The New Yorker

"Premarital sex was looked down on.

The New Yorker

She was looked up to".

The New Yorker

"Everything was looked at," Stanton said.

The New York Times - Sports

'I was looked after in that show.

The Guardian

"I was looked after all of the time.

Independent

He was looked upon as some kind of Huckleberry Homer.

The New York Times

"He was looked upon as a merciless tyrant".

The New York Times

He was looked at through rose-colored glasses.

The New York Times

Nothing, not even the tiniest organism, was looked at alone.

Independent

"It was looked down on," Dr. Bito said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Vary your vocabulary by using synonyms like 'examined', 'scrutinized', or 'considered' to avoid repetition and enhance the impact of your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "was looked" in contexts where the agent performing the action is completely unclear or omitted. Always strive for clarity by either explicitly stating who did the looking or implying it clearly through context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was looked" functions as part of a passive construction, indicating that the subject received the action of looking. It is commonly followed by a preposition such as 'at', 'into', 'upon', or 'after'. As supported by Ludwig, this construction allows for focusing on the receiver of the action rather than the actor.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

32%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was looked" serves as a foundation for passive constructions, indicating that a subject received the action of being viewed or examined. Its grammatical status is correct, and it enjoys very common usage across diverse contexts, predominantly in News & Media and Science. Although Ludwig AI highlights the correctness of the phrase, it's vital to ensure clarity by specifying, or clearly implying, who or what performed the action. To maintain writing quality, you can use synonyms like "examined" or "reviewed".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was seen

Uses a different verb while maintaining the passive voice.

was regarded

Implies a specific opinion or assessment was made.

was considered

Similar to 'regarded' but can also mean simply 'thought about'.

was examined

Focuses on scrutiny or inspection.

was inspected

Emphasizes a formal or official examination.

was scrutinized

Highlights a detailed and critical examination.

was reviewed

Suggests a formal assessment or evaluation took place.

was watched

Emphasizes observation over a period of time.

underwent observation

Rephrases to avoid the passive construction, emphasizing the subject.

received attention

Focuses on the act of being noticed or dealt with.

FAQs

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

Use "was looked" when you want to describe something that was examined or considered. For example, "The data "was looked at" carefully to identify any anomalies."

What is a good alternative to "was looked at"?

Alternatives include "was examined", "was reviewed", or "was considered", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "looked"?

It depends on the context. Passive voice (e.g., "was looked at") is useful when the actor is unknown or unimportant. Active voice (e.g., "The team looked at") is better when you want to emphasize who performed the action.

What's the difference between "was looked at" and "was looked into"?

"Was looked at" implies a brief or general examination, while "was looked into" suggests a more thorough investigation or analysis.