was not sent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was not sent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something, such as a message or item, was not dispatched or delivered as intended. Example: "The email was not sent due to a technical error."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was not sent to Germanwings.

The Guardian

The Merseysider was not sent off.

The Guardian - Sport

But she was not sent to school".

The Guardian - Books

Moore was not sent into exile or traded.

The Guardian - Sport

I was lucky: I was not sent to Vietnam.

The New York Times

Then the detainee was not sent to any committee.

The New York Times

I don't understand why he was not sent off".

The Guardian - Sport

Another.38 found in Díaz's bedroom was not sent to ballistics.

The Guardian

He was not sent off for biting, just for pushing his head into Barry's face.

The Guardian - Sport

Holland are flabbergasted that Luis Figo was not sent off for headbutting Mark Van Bommel.

The Guardian - Sport

General Manager Brian Cashman said Horne was not sent for tests.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was not sent", ensure the context clearly indicates what should have been sent and the reason for its absence. For example, "The email "was not sent" because the server was down."

Common error

Avoid using "was not sent" when an active voice construction is more appropriate. For instance, instead of "The letter "was not sent" by John", consider "John did not send the letter."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was not sent" primarily functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that an action (sending) did not occur. It's commonly used to explain the absence of a message, item, or person from a particular location, as shown in many of Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was not sent" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to indicate that something did not reach its intended destination or was not dispatched. Ludwig AI confirms its usability across varied contexts. Its frequency across News & Media, Academia, and Science sources highlights its broad applicability. While alternatives like "was not delivered" or "was not transmitted" exist, "was not sent" remains a versatile and acceptable choice in most situations. Remember to use it actively and to be sure about its passive voice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

wasn't dispatched

Replaces "sent" with "dispatched", focusing on the action of sending out.

was not dispatched

Alternative wording with similar focus of "sent", focusing on the action of sending out.

was not delivered

Highlights the failure of delivery, common in logistics and postal contexts.

was not transmitted

Substitutes "sent" with "transmitted", often used in technical or formal contexts.

did not arrive

Focuses on the lack of arrival rather than the act of sending.

never reached

Emphasizes that something failed to reach its destination.

wasn't forwarded

Focuses on the lack of forwarding, suggesting an intermediary step was missed.

was held back

Implies that something was intentionally prevented from being sent.

was kept back

Similar to "was held back", suggesting retention rather than sending.

remained unsubmitted

Focuses on the lack of submitting instead of sending.

FAQs

What does "was not sent" mean?

The phrase "was not sent" indicates that something, like a message, package, or person, did not reach its intended destination or was not dispatched from its origin.

How can I use "was not sent" in a sentence?

You can use "was not sent" to explain why something didn't arrive or happen, such as "The application "was not sent" due to a technical error."

What's a formal alternative to "was not sent"?

In formal contexts, consider using "was not dispatched" or "was not transmitted" as more formal alternatives to "was not sent".

What can I say instead of "was not sent" to indicate something didn't arrive?

You could say "did not arrive", "never reached", or "was not delivered" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.