was seconded to

USAGE SUMMARY

"was seconded to" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
In general, "second" means to support or agree with an idea, motion, etc. As a result, "was seconded to" usually means that someone was formally assigned to a position or task. For example, "Jane was seconded to lead the committee on implementing a new safety program."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Ultimately, Riza was seconded to the State Department.

The New Yorker

Immediately after the war Iveson was seconded to BOAC, flying converted bombers to the Far East.

Independent

I was seconded to a new post which lacked clarity and effective management oversight.

The Guardian

He was seconded to the role following his brief tenure as general manager of News International.

The Guardian

I was seconded to the SAS only briefly, during the hunt for Saddam Hussein.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In 1967, he was seconded to be the chairman of the Science Research Council.

The Guardian

He was seconded to Project Falcon and acted as Whitehall troubleshooter for the UAE.

The Guardian

Bernard Gent, a former Teesside journalist, was seconded to be North Korea's press officer.

The Guardian - Sport

She was seconded to the women's pages for six months during 2004 to cover Clare's maternity leave.

The Guardian

In the years before his retirement, he was seconded to MI5 to help with cold war counter-espionage.

The Guardian

In 2004 he was seconded to the Department of Finance, where he implemented a policy to tax income trusts at the source.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was seconded to" when you want to indicate that someone was temporarily assigned to a specific role or task, usually within an organization or government setting.

Common error

Avoid using "was second to" when you mean "was seconded to". The former implies being inferior or next in line, while the latter indicates a temporary assignment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was seconded to" functions as a passive voice construction indicating a temporary assignment or transfer of duties. As supported by Ludwig, it shows that someone received the action of being assigned to a new role.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Science

2%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was seconded to" is a grammatically correct phrase indicating a temporary assignment, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It is very common, particularly in News & Media and Wiki contexts. The phrase conveys information about a temporary role and carries a neutral register. Related phrases include "was temporarily assigned to" and "was detailed to". When using "was seconded to", ensure you are indicating a temporary assignment and not implying inferiority.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was temporarily assigned to

Focuses on the temporary nature of the assignment.

was detailed to

Emphasizes a specific task or duty being assigned.

was transferred temporarily to

Highlights the temporary transfer from one position to another.

was reassigned to

Indicates a change in assignment, possibly temporary.

was temporarily attached to

Suggests a temporary connection or affiliation with another unit or department.

was loaned to

Implies a temporary lending of services or personnel.

was delegated to

Highlights the act of delegating responsibilities.

was designated to

Focuses on the designation or appointment to a specific role.

was commissioned to

Suggests a formal commissioning for a particular task.

was drafted to

Implies a more forceful or mandatory assignment.

FAQs

How do I use "was seconded to" in a sentence?

Use "was seconded to" to indicate a temporary assignment. For example, "The officer "was seconded to" the intelligence unit for six months."

What does "was seconded to" mean?

"Was seconded to" means someone was temporarily assigned to a different role or department, usually within the same organization or a related one. It often implies a specific purpose or project.

What are some alternatives to "was seconded to"?

You can use alternatives such as "was temporarily assigned to", "was detailed to", or "was loaned to" depending on the specific context.

Is "was seconded to" formal or informal?

"Was seconded to" is generally considered neutral to formal in register, suitable for professional, news, and official contexts. It's less common in casual conversation.