was published

USAGE SUMMARY

'was published' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe when something was made available to the public, such as when a book, article, or magazine is released. Example sentence: The author's debut novel was published in 2019.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was published by Byliner.

The New York Times

The collection was published posthumously.

The New York Times - Books

So the story was published.

The New Yorker

It was published and republished.

The New York Times - Books

It was published in 1982.

The New York Times - Books

Everything was published".

The New York Times

It was published.

The Guardian - Arts

Nothing was published.

The Guardian - Sport

(It was published on Lens in 2009).

The New York Times

The paper was published in PLoS One.

The New York Times - Science

The fourth, "Alternaissance," was published in March.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was published" when you want to emphasize the material itself rather than who published it. For example, "The study "was published" in a peer-reviewed journal" focuses on the study's appearance, not the journal.

Common error

While "was published" is grammatically correct, avoid overusing passive voice in your writing. Sometimes, using the active voice (e.g., "The journal published the study") can make your writing more direct and engaging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was published" functions as a passive verb construction, indicating that a particular work or piece of information has been made available to the public. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Encyclopedias

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was published" is a grammatically correct and frequently used passive verb phrase that indicates the release of a work or information to the public. As Ludwig AI confirms, it appears most commonly in news, encyclopedias, and wikis. When writing, remember that it is typically used to focus on the published material itself, but avoid overusing the passive voice to maintain clarity and engagement. Alternatives such as "was released" or "came out" may be suitable depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was released

Emphasizes the act of making something available to the public.

was issued

Implies an official or formal release of something.

appeared in print

Focuses on the physical manifestation of publishing, highlighting the printed form.

was brought out

Highlights the action of introducing or launching something to the market.

was disseminated

Focuses on the spread of information to a wide audience.

came out

A more informal way of saying something was released.

was circulated

Similar to disseminated, but suggests a more controlled distribution.

hit the shelves

Specifically refers to books becoming available in stores.

was unveiled

Suggests a formal presentation or reveal of something to the public.

saw the light of day

A more figurative way to express that something was made public.

FAQs

How to use "was published" in a sentence?

Use "was published" to indicate when a book, article, study, or other work became available to the public. For example, "The novel "was published in 2020"."

What can I say instead of "was published"?

You can use alternatives like "was released", "appeared in", or "came out" depending on the context.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "was published"?

Whether to use active or passive voice depends on the emphasis you want to create. Use "was published" (passive voice) when you want to focus on the material itself. Use active voice (e.g., "The publisher released") when you want to emphasize the actor.

What's the difference between "was published" and "is published"?

"Was published" refers to a past event, indicating something that has already been released. "Is published" refers to a current or ongoing situation, indicating a regularly released publication, or that something is released now.