was made of

USAGE SUMMARY

"was made of" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is used to indicate the material or substance that something is composed of. Example: The table was made of solid oak wood, giving it a sturdy and elegant appearance.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What was made of Styrofoam?

The New Yorker

Everything was made of paper.

The New York Times

It was made of wood.

Independent

It was made of reinforced concrete blocks.

The New York Times

The bed was made of wood.

Independent

The stand was made of aluminium.

The Economist

No mention was made of it.

The New York Times

I was made of weaker stuff.

The New Yorker

"It was made of felt.

The New York Times - Style

No search was made of the garage.

Cornell University

Proof was made of these publications.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the composition of an object or substance, use "was made of" to clearly and directly indicate the materials used. For example: "The statue was made of bronze."

Common error

Avoid using "is made from" when referring to a past event or creation. Use "was made of" to maintain consistency in past tense narratives.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was made of" functions as a descriptive element, specifying the composition or material of a subject. As seen in Ludwig's examples, it clearly indicates what an object or structure is constructed from.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

46%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was made of" is a versatile and commonly used phrase to describe the composition of an object or substance. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely accepted in both formal and informal contexts. The phrase appears most frequently in scientific and news publications, making it essential for clear communication across various fields. When writing, remember that "was made of" is used for past tense descriptions, providing straightforward information about materials and construction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

composed of

Highlights the elements that constitute the entirety of something.

consisted of

Changes the verb to indicate that something is composed of specific elements or parts.

comprised of

Replaces "made" with "comprised", emphasizing the components that form the whole.

constructed from

Focuses on the building process and the materials used.

built with

Similar to "constructed from", but implies a more deliberate building process.

formed from

Implies a process where materials naturally come together to create something.

fashioned from

Suggests a more artistic or crafted creation using specific materials.

created with

Focuses on the act of creation and the tools or substances employed.

manufactured using

Emphasizes the industrial process of creation with particular resources.

produced from

Indicates that something is the result of a production process using specific ingredients.

FAQs

How can I use "was made of" in a sentence?

"Was made of" is used to describe the material something is constructed from. For example, "The house was made of brick" indicates the primary building material.

What's a good alternative to "was made of"?

Alternatives include "consisted of", "comprised of", or "composed of", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "is made of" instead of "was made of"?

The choice between "is made of" and "was made of" depends on the tense. Use "is made of" for present tense and "was made of" for past tense. For instance, "The table is made of wood" (present) versus "The table was made of wood" (past).

What is the difference between "was made of" and "was made from"?

"Was made of" generally refers to the primary materials that are still recognizable in the final product (e.g., "The shirt was made of cotton"). "Was made from" implies a transformation of the original material (e.g., "The paper was made from wood pulp").