was recommended to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'was recommended to' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when someone was given advice or a suggestion on what to do, usually by another person. For example: "I was recommended to try yoga for stress relief, so I decided to give it a go."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was recommended to me.

Independent

He was recommended to me.

The Guardian - Music

It was recommended to Iuzzolino by a Twitter follower.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"Sabin was recommended to me, and he came to me".

The New York Times

"It was recommended to me a while back.

The New York Times

Josephine was recommended to them as a maid and they took her on.

The New Yorker

He says, "It's the book that was recommended to us the most often".

The New York Times

The case against a battalion commander was recommended to proceed to court-martial.

The New York Times

It was recommended to me and I have got to know Arthur, the owner, quite well.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I was recommended to port and polish the intake and exhaust.

The New York Times

Lindsley, who was twenty-five, was recommended to the Aileses by a News Corp. executive.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was recommended to" when you want to emphasize that the advice or suggestion came from an external source, adding credibility to the action or decision.

Common error

Avoid replacing the passive construction "was recommended to" with an active construction if the source of the recommendation is important. For example, instead of "I tried it", specify "It "was recommended to" me by a friend".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was recommended to" functions as a passive construction indicating that someone received a suggestion or advice, as demonstrated in the Ludwig examples. It emphasizes the reception of a recommendation rather than the act of recommending.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

41%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Unknown

9%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was recommended to" is a common and grammatically sound construction used to indicate that someone received a suggestion or piece of advice from an external source. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely applicable across various contexts, including news, science, and general discourse. When writing, use this phrase to emphasize the external origin of a suggestion, lending it credibility. Alternatives like "was advised to" or "was suggested to" can be used to subtly alter the tone. Remember to avoid replacing the passive voice with active voice if the source of the recommendation is important to the meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was advised to

Replaces 'recommended' with 'advised', indicating a more formal suggestion.

was suggested to

Uses 'suggested' instead of 'recommended', implying a gentler form of advice.

was encouraged to

Indicates a stronger push or motivation compared to a simple recommendation.

was urged to

Conveys a sense of urgency or importance, stronger than 'recommended'.

it was proposed that

Shifts the focus to the proposal rather than the recommendation.

it was deemed advisable to

Introduces a sense of prudence or careful consideration.

was guided to

Suggests a more hands-on approach to providing direction.

was prompted to

Implies an external stimulus initiated the action.

was instructed to

Indicates a formal directive or order.

someone advocated that

Focuses on the act of advocating, emphasizing persuasive support.

FAQs

How can I use "was recommended to" in a sentence?

Use "was recommended to" to indicate that someone received a suggestion or advice, like "The book "was recommended to" me by my teacher".

What are some alternatives to "was recommended to"?

You can use alternatives such as "was advised to", "was suggested to", or "was encouraged to" depending on the context.

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

The passive voice is appropriate when the source of the recommendation is important. Using active voice changes the focus; for instance, "My doctor recommended it" versus "It "was recommended to" me by my doctor".

What's the difference between "was recommended to" and "was advised to"?

"Was recommended to" implies a helpful suggestion, while "was advised to" suggests more formal or professional counsel. The choice depends on the specific context.