was originally founded

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was originally founded" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to talk about when a company, organization, or institution was established. For example, "The National Football League was originally founded in 1920."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Libbey was originally founded in 1818 as the New England Glass Company, in East Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The University of Nayarit (1969) was originally founded in 1930 as the Nayarit Institute of Science and Letters.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The community was originally founded that year as a religious order for women in the Episcopal Church.

The New York Times

Hue's university was originally founded in 1957; after being reorganized in 1976, it was granted university status in 1988.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It was originally founded as a church teacher training college, but its range of courses has widened since then.

The Guardian

This marks a new beginning for Ars Technica, which was originally founded in 1998 by Ken Caesarr" Fisher (based in Boston) and Jon Hanniball" Stokes (based in Chicago).

The Washington Post

Souq was originally founded back in 2005.

TechCrunch

AVG was originally founded back in 1991.

TechCrunch

The company was originally founded in 1999.

TechCrunch

This public university was originally founded in 1921 as a teachers' college.

Forbes

It was originally founded in 1793 as an academy named in honor of Alexander Hamilton.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the history of an organization, clarify the circumstances around its founding to provide context and deeper understanding for the reader.

Common error

Be specific about the year, location, and key individuals involved when stating that something "was originally founded". Vague statements lack credibility and historical precision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was originally founded" functions as a passive voice construction that describes the act of establishing or creating an entity. It indicates the beginning or inception of an organization, company, or institution. Ludwig provides numerous examples showcasing this function across varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Encyclopedias

8%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Science

13%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was originally founded" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe the establishment of an organization or institution. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is used frequently across various contexts, especially in news and media, encyclopedias, and academic writing. When using the phrase, it's important to be specific with details such as the date, location, and key people involved. While alternatives exist, such as "was initially established", the original phrase remains a clear and effective way to convey historical origins.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was initially established

Replaces 'originally founded' with 'initially established', focusing on the commencement or setting up of an organization.

was first established

Uses 'first established' to highlight the initial establishment, emphasizing the beginning.

was created initially

Replaces 'founded' with 'created', changing the focus from establishment to creation with 'initially' emphasizing the start.

originated as

Emphasizes the beginning or initial form of something, often used for institutions or concepts.

had its genesis in

Uses a more figurative expression, indicating the origin or starting point of something.

began as

Simple and direct, indicating the initial form or purpose of something.

started out as

Indicates the initial state or activity of something, suggesting a possible evolution or change over time.

emerged from

Suggests that something developed or arose out of a particular context or situation.

has roots in

Indicates a historical connection or origin in a particular place, time, or event.

was conceived as

Highlights the initial idea or plan behind the founding of something.

FAQs

What does "was originally founded" mean?

The phrase "was originally founded" means that an organization, company, or institution was established or started at a particular time in the past. It emphasizes the initial establishment of something.

What can I say instead of "was originally founded"?

You can use alternatives like "was initially established", "was first established", or "started out as" depending on the context.

How do I use "was originally founded" in a sentence?

You can use "was originally founded" to describe when a company or organization began. For example, "The company was originally founded in 1998 as a small online bookstore."

Is it redundant to say "was originally founded"?

While "founded" implies an origin, adding "originally" can emphasize a contrast with the current state or activities. It's useful when highlighting how something has evolved since its inception.