was regarded as

USAGE SUMMARY

"was regarded as" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are discussing the perception or opinion of someone or something. For example: "The film was regarded as a classic by most critics."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Last summer Shields was regarded as highly as Harrington.

Los Angeles Times

— was regarded as a dud.

The New Yorker

This was regarded as a humiliation.

Independent

Her claim was regarded as potentially significant.

Independent

For Japan, Manchuria was regarded as vital.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Neither fire was regarded as suspicious.

The New York Times

P < 0.05 was regarded as significant.

Nature

Christianity itself was regarded as a philosophy.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Beckett was regarded as something for highbrows.

The New York Times

His approach was regarded as primitive.

The Guardian

It was regarded as absolutely pointless.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was regarded as" to clearly indicate a viewpoint or perception about a subject, ensuring the context provides clarity on who holds that view. For instance, "The policy was regarded as controversial by many citizens" clearly attributes the sentiment.

Common error

Avoid using "was regarded as" without specifying who held that view. Statements like "The event was regarded as a success" are weak without indicating the source of that assessment, leading to potential ambiguity and lack of credibility.

Linguistic Context

"Was regarded as" functions as a passive construction indicating how someone or something was perceived or viewed. It expresses an opinion or judgment held by a group or individual, as supported by examples in Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

34%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was regarded as" is a versatile phrase used to express a perception, assessment, or evaluation. It is grammatically correct and widely employed across diverse contexts, including news, science, and academia. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is perfectly suitable for use in written English. For clarity, specify who held the view. While alternatives like "was considered to be" or "was seen as" exist, "was regarded as" effectively communicates how something was viewed or understood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was considered to be

Focuses more on the act of deliberation and judgment in forming an opinion.

was believed to be

Indicates a conviction or acceptance of something as true, without necessarily having concrete proof.

was thought of as

Indicates a general belief or opinion held by a group.

was seen as

Highlights the visual perception or impression of something.

was viewed as

Similar to "was seen as" but can also suggest a more critical evaluation.

was deemed as

Implies a formal judgment or official assessment.

was characterized as

Suggests a description or classification based on specific qualities.

was known as

Emphasizes widespread recognition or reputation.

was understood as

Focuses on the interpretation or comprehension of something.

was reputed to be

Highlights a reputation, which may or may not be based on fact.

FAQs

How can I use "was regarded as" in a sentence?

Use "was regarded as" to show how something was perceived or considered by others. For instance, "The experiment "was regarded as" a success due to the positive results".

What are some alternatives to "was regarded as"?

Alternatives include "was considered to be", "was deemed as", or "was seen as". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always necessary to specify who regarded something as such when using "was regarded as"?

While not always grammatically required, specifying the source of the opinion strengthens your statement and avoids ambiguity. Saying "critics "was regarded as" the film a masterpiece" is more effective than simply saying "the film "was regarded as" a masterpiece".

What's the difference between "was regarded as" and "was considered as"?

"Was regarded as" implies a general perception or opinion, while "was considered as" suggests a more thoughtful or deliberate assessment. While similar, "was considered to be" indicates a more formal evaluation process.