was not received

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was not received" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it when discussing something that was expected or needed but not received, for example: The order was placed, but unfortunately the package was not received.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But his defense was not received well.

The New York Times

The president was not received warmly here.

The New York Times

This suggestion was not received with enthusiasm at the networks.

The New Yorker

That proposal was not received well by trial lawyers.

The New York Times

She says she mailed a letter that was not received.

The New York Times

He said his suggestion "was not received very well".

The New York Times - Sports

However, City Year was not received by the campus of activists they had expected.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

7 was not received with any public demonstrations of satisfaction in Cairo.

The New York Times

The testimony was not received by a body having the fore of law at its command.

The New York Times

This historical winding-up was not received with universal amusement by Johnson's hosts.

The Guardian - Opinion

That was not received kindly by some Leafs fans, but Messier was impressed.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was not received", ensure that the subject receiving the action is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify who or what did not receive something.

Common error

Avoid overusing passive voice constructions like "was not received", as it can make your writing sound indirect and less engaging. Whenever possible, rephrase the sentence in active voice to create a stronger impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was not received" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject did not obtain or experience the action of receiving. Ludwig examples confirm its use in various contexts where something expected or sent did not reach its intended recipient or achieve recognition.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Encyclopedias

3%

Academia

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was not received" is a grammatically sound and commonly used passive voice construction. As Ludwig AI confirms, it serves to indicate a lack of receipt, acceptance, or acknowledgement across various contexts, particularly in news and media, science, and business. While versatile, mindful use is advised to avoid overusing the passive voice. Alternatives like "failed to be received" or "did not get through" may offer more direct or nuanced ways to convey the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

failed to be received

Focuses on the failure aspect, highlighting that the reception did not occur as intended.

was not delivered

Specifically refers to the failure of something to reach its destination.

did not get through

Emphasizes the lack of successful transmission or delivery of something.

was not obtained

Emphasizes the failure to acquire or gain possession of something.

was not acknowledged

Shifts the focus to a lack of recognition or acceptance.

was not accepted

Focuses on the rejection or non-acceptance of something.

went unheeded

Indicates that something was ignored or disregarded.

was not complied with

Refers to a failure to adhere to a rule, request, or instruction.

was not welcomed

Highlights a lack of positive or favorable reception.

did not register

Indicates that something failed to make an impression or be noticed.

FAQs

How to use "was not received" in a sentence?

Use "was not received" to indicate that something was not obtained or acknowledged. For example, "The package "was not received" by the customer".

What can I say instead of "was not received"?

You can use alternatives like "failed to be received", "did not get through", or "was not acknowledged" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "was not received" or "had not been received"?

"Was not received" is generally used for a single event in the past, while "had not been received" is used when referring to something that hadn't been received before a specific point in the past. Choose the phrase that best fits the timeline of your narrative.

What's the difference between "was not received" and "wasn't received warmly"?

"Was not received" simply states that something did not arrive or get acknowledged. "Wasn't received warmly" implies that something arrived but was met with a negative or indifferent reaction.