was seen by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was seen by" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that someone was observed or noticed by another person. For example, "The painting was seen by many admirers at the art gallery."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

What happened was seen by everyone on live television".

The Guardian

Lopez was seen by army psychiatrists last month.

The Guardian

The Queen's traditional broadcast was seen by 6.4 million viewers.

The Guardian

The same car was seen by witnesses in both cases.

The New York Times

Mr. McCain's confession was seen by some as a betrayal.

The New York Times

It was seen by an officer on the Wellpark's bridge.

The Guardian

This was its gist: "Patient was seen by hematologist.

The New York Times - Health

He was seen by friends immediately after leaving the jail.

The New York Times

He was seen by a soldier and shot three times.

The Guardian

The statement was seen by some as a shift.

The New York Times

The price was seen by analysts as a full one.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was seen by", ensure the subject is clearly defined and the context makes it clear who or what is doing the observing. This helps maintain clarity and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid overuse of the passive voice with "was seen by" if it obscures the active agent. Consider rephrasing to an active construction for a more direct and impactful sentence. For example, instead of "The mistake was seen by the manager", try "The manager saw the mistake."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was seen by" functions as a passive construction indicating that the subject of the sentence was the recipient of an action, namely, being observed. Ludwig provides numerous examples across various contexts where this phrase is used to describe an observation made by someone or something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

32%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was seen by" is a versatile passive construction used to indicate that a subject was observed by someone or something, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. It's prevalent in various contexts, including news, scientific literature, and general communication. While grammatically sound, overuse can lead to less impactful writing, suggesting the active voice as a viable alternative. Ludwig provides several related phrases, such as "was noticed by" and "was observed by", which can offer nuanced variations. Remember to prioritize clarity and context when choosing between active and passive voice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was noticed by

Replaces "seen" with "noticed", emphasizing the act of becoming aware of something.

was observed by

Uses "observed" instead of "seen", often implying a more formal or scientific context.

was witnessed by

Employs "witnessed" to suggest a direct experience of an event.

was detected by

Substitutes "seen" with "detected", implying the use of instruments or heightened senses.

was spotted by

Replaces "seen" with "spotted", indicating a quick or casual observation.

was perceived by

Uses "perceived" to emphasize subjective interpretation of what was observed.

came to the attention of

Expresses that something became known to someone.

was identified by

Uses "identified" instead of "seen", highlighting the act of recognizing something specific.

was apparent to

Emphasizes that something was easily visible or obvious.

was recognized by

Employs "recognized" to stress the act of identifying something previously known.

FAQs

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

You can use "was seen by" to indicate that someone or something was observed by someone else. For example, "The suspect "was seen by" a witness near the crime scene."

What are some alternatives to "was seen by"?

Alternatives include phrases like "was noticed by", "was observed by", or "was witnessed by", depending on the context.

Is it better to use the active or passive voice with "was seen by"?

While grammatically correct, "was seen by" is passive. Using the active voice (e.g., "Someone saw...") can often make your writing more direct and engaging. Consider the context to determine the best choice.

What's the difference between "was seen by" and "was recognized by"?

"Was seen by" simply implies observation, while "was recognized by" means the person or thing observed was also identified or known. For example, you can see a stranger, but you recognize a friend.