was purchased

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was purchased" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was bought in the past, often in a passive construction. Example: "The new software was purchased last week to improve our workflow."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was purchased in 1965.

The New Yorker

It was purchased in Paris.

The Washington Post

DAPI was purchased from Sigma.

Nature

Resveratrol was purchased from Calbiochem.

Nature

Salubrinal was purchased from Calbiochem.

Nature

DAPI was purchased from Roche.

Protein & Cell

was purchased from local market.

Clinical Phytoscience

Oleylamine was purchased from Aldrich.

Nanoscale Res Lett

BY4741 was purchased from Invitrogen.

Protein & Cell

Splenda® sweetener was purchased locally.

Journal of Analytical Science and Technology

HF was purchased from Merck.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was purchased", ensure the sentence clearly indicates who or what did the purchasing, even if it's implied. This enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid overuse of the passive voice with "was purchased" as it can make your writing sound vague or less engaging. Whenever possible, restructure the sentence to use an active voice for a more direct and impactful statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was purchased" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that an item or entity was the recipient of a purchasing action. As Ludwig AI indicates, this usage is grammatically sound and common across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

65%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was purchased" is a grammatically correct and common passive construction used to describe the acquisition of an item or entity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used across different contexts, particularly in scientific and news publications. The phrase is generally neutral in tone, although its frequent use in academic writing can lend it a degree of formality. When using "was purchased", it is important to ensure clarity by indicating, either explicitly or implicitly, who or what did the purchasing. While grammatically sound, avoid overusing passive voice to maintain engagement. Alternatives like "was acquired" or "was bought" can offer nuanced variations depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was acquired

Replaces "purchased" with a more formal term for obtaining something, applicable in similar contexts.

was bought

Uses a simpler and more direct synonym for "purchased", suitable for informal contexts.

was obtained

Focuses on the act of getting something, whether through purchase or other means.

was procured

Suggests a more deliberate and sometimes complex process of acquisition.

came into possession

Emphasizes the transfer of ownership, a more descriptive alternative.

ownership was transferred

Highlights the change in ownership, suitable when the focus is on who now owns the item.

was secured

Implies that effort or competition was involved in obtaining the item.

was invested in

Highlights the financial aspect of the purchase, suitable when emphasizing investment.

funds were used to buy

Explicitly states that money was used to make the purchase.

title was acquired

Focuses on acquiring the legal right or title to something.

FAQs

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

Use "was purchased" to indicate that something was bought or acquired, focusing on the object rather than the buyer. For example, "The new equipment "was purchased" to improve efficiency".

What are some alternatives to "was purchased"?

You can use alternatives like "was acquired", "was bought", or "was obtained" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "was purchased" or "has been purchased"?

"Was purchased" indicates a completed action in the past, while "has been purchased" indicates a completed action with relevance to the present. Choose the tense that best fits the timeline of your sentence.

What's the difference between "was purchased" and "purchased"?

"Was purchased" is in the passive voice, focusing on the object. "Purchased" is in the active voice, focusing on the buyer. For example, "The company purchased the land" (active) vs. "The land "was purchased" by the company" (passive).