was passed

USAGE SUMMARY

"was passed" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something was accepted or ratified by a group. For example: "The new law was passed by a majority vote in Congress."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The torch was passed.

The New York Times - Sports

This was passed out.

The New York Times

His bid was passed out.

The New York Times

This bid was passed out.

The New York Times

A joint was passed.

The New York Times - Magazine

It was passed back.

The New York Times - Magazine

The hat was passed.

The New York Times

The initiative was passed by 0.66 points.

The Guardian

Everything was passed down, the gestures even.

The New Yorker

In this way it was passed around.

The New York Times

In that moment, a mantle was passed.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was passed" when indicating that something has been formally approved or transferred. Ensure the context clearly identifies what or who did the passing.

Common error

Avoid using "was passed" without a clear subject. For example, instead of "It was passed", specify "The law was passed by the Senate".

Linguistic Context

"Was passed" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that the subject of the sentence underwent the action of being passed. This is supported by Ludwig's analysis of numerous examples from varied sources. It typically requires a clear indication of what entity performed the passing action (e.g., "The law was passed by Congress").

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was passed" functions as a passive verb phrase, frequently used to indicate that something has been formally approved, transferred, or enacted. Ludwig AI's analysis, drawing from numerous examples, confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and broadly applicable across various contexts, with a prevalence in News & Media and Wiki sources. While the register is generally neutral, clarity is key: ensure the subject and agent of the passing action are clearly identified to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was approved

Synonymous, but emphasizes the act of approval.

has been approved

Indicates formal acceptance, similar to something being passed.

was ratified

Suggests a formal agreement or confirmation.

was enacted

Specifically refers to the passing of laws or regulations.

was transmitted

Highlights the transfer of something from one point to another.

was transferred

Emphasizes the change of possession or location.

was handed down

Implies tradition or inheritance.

was circulated

Indicates widespread distribution.

was conveyed

Focuses on the communication or transmission of information.

was bequeathed

Refers to something given as an inheritance.

FAQs

How can I use "was passed" in a sentence?

Use "was passed" to indicate that something was approved or transferred. For instance, "The bill "was passed" by Congress" or "The information "was passed" to the team".

What's a good alternative to "was passed"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "was approved", "was ratified", or "was enacted".

Is it correct to say "the message was passed along"?

Yes, "the message "was passed" along" is a correct and commonly used phrase, meaning the message was communicated to someone else.

What's the difference between "was passed" and "was adopted"?

"Was passed" generally refers to approval or transfer, while "was adopted" implies acceptance and implementation. A law "was passed" by a legislature, but a new policy "was passed" by an organization.