was picked for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'was picked for' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to talk about someone or something being chosen from a group. For example: "Martha was picked for the team because of her excellent soccer skills."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There was little surprise when he was picked for his cabinet post by Mr Trudeau.

Independent

Each was picked for the imagination and meaningfulness of its programs.

The New York Times

Summerall was picked for the job over Conerly, Alex Webster and Kyle Rote.

The New York Times

Mr Hagel was picked for his Obama-like caution less than two years ago.

The Economist

Yet he was picked for the first Test on little more than promise and character.

Independent

United States officials say Qatar was picked for the regularly scheduled exercise over a year ago.

The New York Times

Then, after 18 months there, Dr Sharman was picked for the mission.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"Ironically," Mr. Smith said, "the subject that was picked for this month's meeting was disaster recovery".

The New York Times

The name Prozac was picked for its zap: it sounded positive, professional, quick, proey, zaccy.

The Guardian

She was picked for the top job from two dozen applicants.

The Guardian

I started dedicating myself to boxing and soon after that I was picked for England.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was picked for" in passive voice constructions to emphasize the recipient of the action rather than the actor, useful when the selector is unknown or unimportant.

Common error

Avoid using "was pick for"; the correct form is "was picked for". The latter uses the past participle of "pick", ensuring grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was picked for" functions as a passive construction indicating that a subject received the action of being chosen. This emphasizes the recipient of the selection rather than the selector, according to Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Wiki

10%

Science

19%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was picked for" is a commonly used passive construction signifying selection for a specific purpose. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread applicability. It's frequently found in news, media and scientific contexts. While versatile, paying attention to tense and clarity is key. Remember the alternatives! Some examples are was chosen for, was selected for, and was appointed to. By understanding these nuances, you can effectively use "was picked for" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was selected for

Emphasizes a more formal selection process.

was chosen for

Highlights the act of choosing from multiple options.

was appointed to

Suggests an official assignment to a role or position.

was designated for

Indicates a specific purpose or allocation.

was named to

Highlights the act of being officially named or announced.

was handpicked for

Emphasizes a careful and deliberate selection process.

was tapped for

Implies a more informal or insider selection.

was earmarked for

Implies that someone or something was pre-selected for a certain purpose.

was drafted into

Suggests being enlisted or recruited for a specific task.

was favored for

Suggests a preference or bias in the selection process.

FAQs

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

Use "was picked for" to indicate that someone or something was selected from a group for a specific purpose. For example, "She "was picked for" the team because of her skills".

What are some alternatives to "was picked for"?

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

Is it correct to say "was pick for" instead of "was picked for"?

No, "was pick for" is grammatically incorrect. The correct past participle form is ""was picked for"".

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

While similar, ""was picked for"" often implies a more informal selection, whereas "was chosen for" can suggest a more deliberate or formal decision.