was not started

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was not started" is correct and is used in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe something that did not begin or a situation that did not start. Example sentence: The project was not started due to lack of resources.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was not started by Moving Traditions.

The New York Times

The festival was not started as an act of altruism.

The Guardian - Music

7 32 p.m. | Updated Correcting reference to grocery-cart project, which was not started by Microsoft.

The New York Times

It was not started by McCarthy; he merely used it for his own purposes, stupidly and unscrupulously.

The Economist

It was not started with a political statement, and it can't be stopped with a political statement".

The New York Times

According to the Danforth report, the Branch Davidians were responsible for the fire inside their compound; it was not started by the F.B.I.

The New York Times - Magazine

It appeared to have been fed by propane gas released from a canister; it was not started by pouring propane and lighting it.

The New York Times

Victories have been in short supply this season; the Mets have won four games, only one that was not started by Reed.

The New York Times - Sports

The car was not started during its New York visit, but was driven across the block in January at the Bonhams event in Scottsdale, Ariz., to tease the Goodwood sale.

The New York Times

But smoke from a fire that was not started or condoned by managers — a wildfire — is usually seen as just an unfortunate aspect of living in an area where these things happen.

The New York Times - Magazine

As with the case of #nomakeupselfie, the campaign was not started by the charity – yet the ALS Association have been able to drive the success of the challenge forward through the use of social media and actively engaging with participants.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Maintain a consistent tense when using "was not started" within a larger context. If the surrounding sentences are in the past tense, ensure "was not started" aligns grammatically.

Common error

A common mistake is using "was not started" without a clear understanding of the passive voice. This can lead to ambiguity. Always ensure the agent (who or what would have started it) is either clearly implied or explicitly stated for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was not started" functions as a passive construction indicating that an action or process did not begin. This is confirmed by Ludwig AI, which identifies it as grammatically correct and suitable for describing something that did not begin.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

35%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was not started" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that something did not begin. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's suitable for various contexts, including news, science, and general discussions. While it’s important to ensure clarity by specifying what didn't start and to maintain consistent tense, its neutral register makes it broadly applicable. Related phrases like "did not begin" or "never commenced" can offer alternative ways to convey the same meaning, but "was not started" remains a versatile and readily understood choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

did not begin

Focuses on the lack of a beginning or commencement.

never commenced

Emphasizes the lack of formal commencement.

remained uninitiated

Highlights that the action or process stayed in an uninitiated state.

failed to launch

Suggests an attempt to start was unsuccessful.

was not inaugurated

Implies a lack of formal introduction or establishment.

did not originate

Focuses on the absence of an origin or starting point.

was never triggered

Emphasizes that a specific event to initiate the action did not occur.

saw no inception

Highlights the absence of an initial stage or commencement.

was not activated

Implies that a process or system was not made active or operational.

did not materialize

Focuses on the lack of coming into existence or realization.

FAQs

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

Use "was not started" to indicate that something did not begin or commence. For example, "The meeting "was not started" on time due to technical difficulties."

What's a synonym for "was not started"?

Alternatives include "did not begin", "never commenced", or "remained uninitiated". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "was not started"?

While "was not started" is in the passive voice, consider if the active voice provides more clarity. For instance, instead of "The project "was not started" by the team", you could say "The team did not start the project".

What's the difference between "was not started" and "has not started"?

"Was not started" indicates something didn't begin in the past. "Has not started" implies something hasn't begun up to the present. For example, "The construction "was not started" last year" versus "The construction "has not started" yet".