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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
was selected by
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
"was selected by" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is used when someone has chosen, or selected, something or someone for a specific purpose. For example: The winner of the competition was selected by the judges.
✓ Grammatically correct
News & Media
Science
Formal & Business
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
56 human-written examples
"The portfolio was selected by ACA".
News & Media
Coal was selected by only 17%.
News & Media
He was selected by Minnesota with the 26th pick.
News & Media
After some campaigning I was selected by members.
News & Media
Torres was selected by the Islanders in 2000.
News & Media
Subsequently, Terreri was selected by Minnesota in the expansion draft.
News & Media
Williams was selected by the St . Louis Aces
News & Media
He is 43, was selected by NASA in 2000.
News & Media
"It was selected by a stylist for the advertising shoot.
News & Media
Ms. Lin was selected by an alumni nominating committee.
News & Media
Wal-Mart was selected by 48percentt of respondents, while the first runner-up, Google, was selected by only 15percentt.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When using "was selected by", ensure that the context clearly indicates who or what made the selection. This prevents ambiguity and enhances clarity.
Common error
Avoid using "was selected by" when the active voice is more direct and impactful. For example, instead of "The team was selected by the coach", consider "The coach selected the team."
Source & Trust
84%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "was selected by" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject of the sentence underwent an action (selection) performed by someone or something else. Ludwig examples confirm its common usage in denoting choices and appointments.
Frequent in
News & Media
42%
Science
31%
Formal & Business
15%
Less common in
Wiki
8%
Reference
2%
Social Media
2%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, "was selected by" is a very common passive voice construction used to indicate that someone or something was chosen by a particular entity. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage. It appears most frequently in news, scientific, and business contexts. While grammatically sound, consider whether the active voice might provide a more direct and impactful alternative. Be mindful of the audience and context when choosing between active and passive voice constructions. Related phrases like "was chosen by" and "was picked by" offer similar meanings, but with varying degrees of formality. The most frequent sources are The New York Times, The Guardian, and Huffington Post.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
was chosen by
This alternative uses a different verb, 'chosen', which is a synonym for 'selected'.
was picked by
This alternative uses the verb 'picked', offering a more informal synonym for 'selected'.
was handpicked by
This alternative emphasizes that the selection was made carefully and personally.
was appointed by
This alternative implies a more formal selection process, often for a specific role or position.
was designated by
This alternative suggests a selection made by an authority or governing body.
was named by
This alternative is commonly used when someone is chosen for an award or honor.
was elected by
This alternative specifically refers to a selection made through a voting process.
was favored by
This alternative suggests that the choice was based on preference or liking.
was ratified by
This alternative implies that the selection needed formal approval.
was identified by
This alternative suggests the selection was based on specific attributes or criteria.
FAQs
How can I use "was selected by" in a sentence?
Use "was selected by" to indicate that a person or thing was chosen by someone or something else. For instance, "The project was selected by the committee", or "The actor was selected by the director".
What are some alternatives to "was selected by"?
Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "was chosen by", "was picked by", or "was appointed by".
Is it better to use active or passive voice with "was selected by"?
While "was selected by" is grammatically correct, using the active voice can sometimes be more direct. For example, instead of "The winner was selected by the judges", you could say "The judges selected the winner".
What's the difference between "was selected by" and "was nominated by"?
"Was selected by" implies a final choice, whereas "was nominated by" means someone was proposed as a candidate. Someone "was nominated by" someone, then "was selected by" someone else.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
84%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested