was required by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was required by" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was mandated or necessary according to a rule, law, or guideline. Example: "The report was required by the regulatory agency to ensure compliance with industry standards."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I thought it was required by law.

The New Yorker

He was 17 and her consent was required by law.

The Guardian

(Because Poller's presence was required by law, The Times paid the $700 legal fee).

The New York Times - Magazine

That is why the warrant procedure was required by the Fourth Amendment.

The New York Times

"Dome was required by Bank over our dead protests," reads an architect's note.

The New York Times - Arts

The company was required by the courts on various occasions to replead its case.

The Guardian - Opinion

Davies was told that a response was required by the next day.

The Guardian

OK, I said, but did she think that veil wearing was required by the Qur'an?

The Guardian - Opinion

The sale of these units was required by the UK's Competition and Markets Authority CMAA).

The Guardian - Business

Mr. Blagojevich's appearance to open the Senate was required by the State Constitution.

The New York Times

"What is inaccurate is that the deletion of his routine was required by CBS.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was required by", ensure the context clearly identifies who or what is imposing the requirement to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify the specific law, regulation, or authority that mandates the action.

Common error

Avoid omitting the agent that necessitates the requirement. For instance, instead of saying "the update was required", specify "the update was required by the system administrator" to provide clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was required by" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that an action or condition was made necessary or obligatory by an external entity. This passive construction shifts the focus from the actor to the recipient of the action, emphasizing the necessity imposed. As Ludwig AI shows, examples from various sources demonstrate its use in legal, regulatory, and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Science

14%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was required by" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that something was made obligatory by an external entity. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase sees prevalent use in news, science, and academic contexts, emphasizing obligation or necessity. When using the phrase, ensure that the agent imposing the requirement is clearly identified to avoid ambiguity. While the phrase is suitable for formal writing, simpler alternatives may be appropriate in more informal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was mandated by

Replaces "required" with "mandated", emphasizing an official order or command.

was dictated by

Substitutes "required" with "dictated", suggesting a higher authority or influence is imposing the necessity.

was stipulated by

Employs "stipulated" instead of "required", highlighting a specific condition or agreement that necessitates something.

was made necessary by

Rephrases the sentence to focus on the act of making something necessary, rather than the state of being required.

was compelled by

Uses "compelled" instead of "required" to imply that someone or something was forced to do something.

was necessitated by

Employs "necessitated" to highlight that a need or situation made something unavoidable.

was called for by

Suggests that a need or demand triggered the requirement.

was deemed compulsory by

Replaces "required" with "deemed compulsory", emphasizing an official judgment that something is obligatory.

was made obligatory by

Focuses on the act of something becoming obligatory due to an external force or regulation.

was a must per

Uses a more informal tone to indicate a requirement set by someone or something.

FAQs

How can I use "was required by" in a sentence?

Use "was required by" to indicate that something was obligatory due to a rule, law, or necessity. For example, "The submission "was required by" the deadline".

What are some alternatives to "was required by"?

Alternatives include "was mandated by", "was dictated by", or "was stipulated by" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "was required by" or "was necessary because of"?

"Was required by" emphasizes a formal obligation, while "was necessary because of" highlights a causal relationship. Choose the phrase that best fits the intended meaning and context.

Can "was required by" be used in both formal and informal contexts?

"Was required by" is generally suitable for both formal and neutral contexts. However, in very informal settings, you might opt for simpler phrasing like "had to because of".