was picked

USAGE SUMMARY

"was picked" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when talking about something that was chosen from a group of items. Example: "The winning entry was picked from over 500 competitors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Skylar raised his hand and was picked.

The New Yorker

The story was picked up by Autoblog.

The New York Times

She was picked up in Lee Park.

The New Yorker

(It was picked up by Relativity Media).

The New York Times

Paris was relieved that Eisenhower was picked.

The New Yorker

A winning design was picked.

The New Yorker

that was picked up by the crowd.

The New York Times

To his surprise, he was picked.

The New York Times - Magazine

"That's if I was picked at all.

The New York Times

Who was picked, say, nine years ago?

The New Yorker

The number was picked in midafternoon.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was picked" in passive constructions where the selector is unknown or unimportant to emphasize the object of selection. For example, "The winner "was picked" randomly."

Common error

Avoid using "was picked" when you want to emphasize the actor. In such cases, active voice constructions are more suitable. For instance, instead of "The team "was picked" by the coach", use "The coach picked the team."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was picked" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject received the action of being selected. This construction is used when the actor is unknown, unimportant, or when the focus is on the recipient of the action. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Wiki

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was picked" is a grammatically sound and versatile passive construction that is widely used to describe a selection process. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, though its primary domain is news and media. While alternatives such as "was selected" or "was chosen" offer nuances in emphasis, "was picked" remains a reliable and common choice. To ensure clarity and precision in your writing, consider the intended emphasis and audience when choosing between active and passive constructions, and remember to select the best fitting alternative based on these factors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was selected

Emphasizes a deliberate choice made from a range of options.

was chosen

Similar to "was selected", but can also imply a more personal preference.

was chosen

Similar to "was selected", but can also imply a more personal preference.

was designated

Suggests being officially assigned or appointed for a specific purpose.

was appointed

Implies formal assignment, often to a position or role.

was named

Focuses on the act of giving a name or title.

was handpicked

Highlights that the selection was done very carefully and personally.

was elected

Indicates selection through a voting process.

was drawn

Suggests a selection made randomly, as in a lottery.

was extracted

Indicates something was removed or taken from a larger source.

FAQs

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

Use "was picked" to describe something or someone selected from a group. For example, "The best apple from the tree "was picked" for the contest."

What are some alternatives to "was picked"?

You can use alternatives like "was selected", "was chosen", or "was appointed", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "got picked" instead of "was picked"?

While "got picked" is often used in informal contexts, ""was picked"" is grammatically correct and suitable for formal writing. Choose based on your audience and the desired tone.

What's the difference between "was picked" and "was chosen"?

Both indicate selection, but "was chosen" often implies a preference or a more personal decision, while ""was picked"" can be more neutral or random in connotation.