was prescribed

USAGE SUMMARY

'was prescribed' is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it when referring to someone being given a prescription for medication or treatment. For example, "The doctor prescribed her antibiotics for the infection."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The language was prescribed.

The New Yorker

It was prescribed ergocalciferol (D2).

Harvard University

I was prescribed a painkiller patch.

Independent

He was prescribed the antipsychotic drug Risperidone.

The Guardian

He was prescribed antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs.

The New York Times

She was prescribed a drug called Seroxat.

The Guardian

Lithium was prescribed to stabilise his moods.

The Guardian - Money

A penalty was prescribed for its violation.

Cornell University

He was prescribed medication to lower it.

Harvard Business Review

He said he was prescribed medication to treat his depression.

The Guardian

In April 1999, someone in his circle was prescribed OxyContin.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Maintain patient confidentiality by avoiding the disclosure of medical or prescription details. Only use the phrase in contexts where disclosing treatment details is appropriate and respects privacy. Consider rephrasing or omitting unnecessary specificity if confidentiality is a concern.

Common error

Avoid using "was prescribed" with a plural subject. The correct form for a plural subject is "were prescribed". For example, instead of "Patients was prescribed medication", use "Patients were prescribed medication".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was prescribed" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that someone (typically a patient) received a prescription or medical instruction. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was prescribed" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that a medical treatment or medication was ordered by a healthcare professional for a patient. As Ludwig AI highlights, this construction is grammatically correct and widely used in written English. It commonly appears in medical contexts across various domains, including news reports, scientific literature, and academic research. Given its prevalence and versatility, "was prescribed" serves as a reliable and effective way to communicate medical information. The most frequent contexts are news and media sources (45%), science (30%) and academia (15%).

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

received a prescription for

Focuses on the act of receiving the prescription, highlighting the patient's perspective.

was given a prescription for

Similar to "received a prescription for", but emphasizes the act of being given the prescription.

was directed to take

Indicates instruction to take medication, shifting from prescription to direct action.

was advised to use

Emphasizes guidance and recommendation regarding a treatment or medication.

was ordered to receive

Highlights the authoritative nature of the prescription or medical directive.

had a course of treatment

Shifts the focus to the overall course of medical action rather than a single prescription.

was put on medication

Informal way to say someone started taking medication by doctor's orders.

started a regimen of

Highlights that is a process that one must follow over time.

commenced treatment with

Focuses on initiating medical treatment, suggesting a formal start to a therapeutic process.

underwent a therapeutic protocol

Describes a structured approach to therapy with medical significance.

FAQs

How do I use "was prescribed" in a sentence?

Use "was prescribed" to indicate that a healthcare professional ordered a specific medication or treatment for a patient. For instance, "The patient "was prescribed" antibiotics for the infection".

What is the difference between "was prescribed" and "received a prescription for"?

"Was prescribed" focuses on the action of the doctor ordering the medication, while "received a prescription for" emphasizes the patient's action of obtaining the prescription.

What are some alternatives to "was prescribed"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "was given a prescription for", "was directed to take", or "was advised to use".

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

While "got prescribed" is sometimes used informally, ""was prescribed"" is the more grammatically correct and formal way to express that a doctor ordered a medication or treatment.