was selected to

USAGE SUMMARY

"was selected to" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to indicate that someone has been chosen for a certain role or task. For example: John was selected to lead the project due to his proven leadership skills.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Wade was selected to chair the committee.

The New York Times

He was selected to nine Pro Bowls.

The Washington Post

He was selected to be the queen's piper in 1980.

The New York Times

Rio de Janeiro was selected to host the 2016 Games.

The New York Times - Sports

I think my father was selected to do a job.

The Guardian - Music

He was selected to play rugby for his county.

The New Yorker

She was selected to fight Yardley the following year.

The Guardian

I was selected to be an Engaged Cornell Fellow.

Cornell University

In 2011, she was selected to head the IMF.

Harvard University

Carbon was selected to minimize the support interactions.

Catalysis Today

The PTFE hollow fiber was selected to carry out USDCMD.

Journal of Membrane Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was selected to", ensure the sentence clearly indicates who made the selection and the criteria or purpose behind it. This adds clarity and credibility to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "was selected to" without specifying who did the selecting. Ambiguity can weaken your statement. Instead of "The candidate was selected to lead the project", write "The committee selected the candidate to lead the project".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was selected to" functions as a passive construction, indicating that someone or something received the action of being chosen. This construction allows the writer to emphasize the recipient of the action rather than the actor, as seen in Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

31%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was selected to" is a common passive voice construction used to indicate that someone or something has been chosen for a particular role or task. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, especially in news, science, and academic writing. When employing this phrase, clarity is key; specifying the selector enhances the statement's impact. While alternatives like "was chosen to" or "was appointed to" exist, the formality and nuance may vary. Therefore, consider the context and desired tone when using "was selected to" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was chosen to

Synonymous, with a slightly more active feel.

was appointed to

Implies a formal assignment to a position or duty.

was designated to

Suggests a more official or formal selection.

was picked to

More informal, suitable for less formal contexts.

was named to

Often used when being publicly announced or recognized.

was elected to

Indicates a selection via a voting process.

was drafted to

Often implies an obligation or mandatory assignment.

was tapped to

Suggests a discreet or strategic selection.

was assigned to

Indicates a task or duty has been given.

was commissioned to

Implies formal authorization to carry out a task.

FAQs

How to use "was selected to" in a sentence?

Use "was selected to" to indicate that someone or something was chosen for a specific purpose or role. For example, "She "was selected to" represent the company at the conference."

What can I say instead of "was selected to"?

You can use alternatives like "was chosen to", "was appointed to", or "was designated to" depending on the context.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "was selected to"?

While "was selected to" is in the passive voice, using the active voice can sometimes provide more clarity and directness. For instance, instead of "He "was selected to" lead the team", you could say "The manager selected him to lead the team".

What's the difference between "was selected to" and "was chosen to"?

While similar, "was selected to" often implies a more formal or deliberate process of choosing compared to "was chosen to", which can be more general.