was prolonged

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was prolonged" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something was extended or took longer than expected. Example: His recovery from the surgery was prolonged, but he eventually regained his full strength.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was prolonged.

The New York Times

There was prolonged applause from the students.

The New Yorker

It was prolonged, crescendoing agony for them".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Today, in Bethlehem, it was prolonged.

The New Yorker

"Errrrrr …" Jackson's own hesitation was prolonged and curiously musical.

The Guardian - Music

The debate was prolonged with passionate views over two books".

The Guardian - Books

The job of beating the Germans was prolonged, not shortened, by targeting German civilians.

The New York Times

The labor was prolonged — more than twenty hours — and her swearing was profuse.

The New Yorker

There was prolonged applause as the pilots' widows and children accepted the award.

The New York Times

What is known is that the questioning was prolonged, extending day and night for weeks.

The New York Times

Following the Chernobyl accident, the radiation was prolonged and mainly isotopic.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was prolonged" to clearly indicate that the duration of something exceeded the expected or typical timeframe. Provide context to explain why the extension occurred.

Common error

Avoid using "was prolonged" in overly simplistic sentences where a more direct verb would be more impactful. For instance, instead of "The meeting was prolonged", consider "The meeting ran late."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was prolonged" functions as a passive verb phrase. It indicates that something had its duration extended. Ludwig provides examples where "was prolonged" is used to describe events, processes, or conditions that lasted longer than expected, such as "the labor was prolonged" or "the debate was prolonged".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

39%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was prolonged" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate that something's duration has been extended. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and usability in written English. Its presence is significant across both scientific and news contexts, suggesting a formal to neutral register. Remember to provide context when using the phrase, and consider more direct verbs in simple sentences for greater impact. As Ludwig's examples demonstrate, the phrase "was prolonged" helps to precisely communicate an extension in time.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was extended

This suggests a stretching out or lengthening of something, often in terms of duration.

was lengthened

Similar to "was extended", but implies making something longer, particularly in time.

was continued

Focuses on the ongoing nature of something, implying it didn't stop.

was drawn out

Suggests a deliberate act of making something last longer, often unnecessarily.

was stretched out

Implies that something was made to last longer than it naturally would.

was sustained

Indicates that something was maintained or kept going for a longer duration.

was protracted

Similar to "was prolonged" but often implies an undesirable or tedious length.

was perpetuated

Suggests something was made to continue, often something negative.

was maintained

Focuses on the act of keeping something at a certain level or duration.

was elongated

This suggests making something longer, frequently referring to an object.

FAQs

How to use "was prolonged" in a sentence?

Use "was prolonged" to indicate that the duration of an event, process, or state was extended. For example, "The negotiation "was prolonged" due to unforeseen complications."

What can I say instead of "was prolonged"?

You can use alternatives like "was extended", "was lengthened", or "was drawn out" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "was prolonged" or "lasted longer"?

"Was prolonged" often implies an extension beyond what was normal or expected, while "lasted longer" is a more neutral statement of duration. The best choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.

What is the difference between "was prolonged" and "continued"?

"Was prolonged" emphasizes the extended duration of something, while "continued" simply indicates that something didn't stop. For example, "The treatment "was prolonged" because the patient's condition continued to worsen" implies an extended treatment period.