was received

USAGE SUMMARY

"was received" is a grammatically correct phrase in written English.
You can use it when something has been given, obtained, taken in, or accepted. For example, "The package was received on Tuesday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

No reply was received.

Independent

No answer was received.

Independent

"It was received well.

The New York Times

Kennedy's death was received.

The New Yorker

The message was received.

The New Yorker

He was received ecstatically.

The New York Times - Arts

He was received politely.

The Guardian

"It was received wisdom.

The Guardian

It was received very well".

The New York Times

"It was received extraordinarily well.

The Guardian

No distress signal was received.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was received" when you want to emphasize the passive nature of the action, highlighting that something was given or sent to someone, rather than someone actively seeking it.

Common error

Avoid using "was received" when an active voice construction would be more direct and clear. For example, instead of "The application was received by the committee", consider "The committee received the application".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was received" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject of the sentence underwent the action of receiving. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is a grammatically sound and common phrase in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

37%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Huffington Post

5%

Vice

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was received" is a grammatically correct and frequently used passive voice construction. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples across various contexts. It is commonly found in News & Media and Scientific publications, indicating its widespread acceptance. While active voice might sometimes be preferable for clarity, "was received" is appropriate when emphasizing the action of receiving rather than the actor. Consider alternatives like "was obtained" or "was accepted" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was obtained

Focuses on the act of getting or acquiring something.

was accepted

Emphasizes agreement or approval of something.

was granted

Suggests permission or authorization was given.

was provided

Highlights the act of supplying or furnishing something.

was delivered

Emphasizes the action of bringing something to a destination.

was experienced

Focuses on undergoing or encountering a particular event or situation.

was encountered

Highlights the act of meeting or coming across something unexpectedly.

was met with

Indicates a specific reaction or response to something.

was subjected to

Implies being exposed to something, often negative or difficult.

was exposed to

Indicates being presented with or made aware of something.

FAQs

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

Use "was received" to indicate that something was given, sent, or communicated to someone. For example, "The letter was received yesterday" or "The news was received with joy".

What are some alternatives to "was received"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "was obtained", "was accepted", or "was granted".

Is it better to use active or passive voice when describing that something was received?

While "was received" is grammatically correct, active voice can often be more direct. For example, instead of "The email was received by John", using "John received the email" can be clearer.

What's the difference between "was received" and "has been received"?

"Was received" indicates a past action that is completed, while "has been received" implies that the action happened at some point in the past and is relevant to the present. For example, "The payment was received last week" versus "The payment has been received, so we can proceed".