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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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was shown

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

"was shown" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe an action that has occurred and been witnessed. For example: "The data was shown to be accurate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

A movie was shown.

News & Media

The New Yorker

It was shown to me.

News & Media

The Guardian

Koffi was shown on TV.

A television movie was shown on Lifetime.

News & Media

The New York Times

Each rider was shown two avatars.

Nullification, he said, was shown to work.

News & Media

The New York Times

The second group was shown bar graphs.

News & Media

The New Yorker

Basinger was shown ostentatiously polishing her statuette.

News & Media

The New Yorker

The replay was shown again and again.

Her work was shown widely in Europe.

News & Media

The New Yorker
Show more...

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Each tweet was shown to several volunteers.

News & Media

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was shown" when you want to emphasize that something was made visible or apparent to someone. For example, "The results of the experiment were shown to the committee."

Common error

Remember that "was shown" is the correct passive form of 'show'. "Was showed" is grammatically incorrect. For example, write 'The film was shown last night', not 'The film was showed last night'.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

83%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "was shown" is to form the passive voice of the verb 'show'. It indicates that the subject of the sentence received the action of being shown, rather than performing it. Ludwig AI confirms this usage with numerous examples of the phrase in context.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

38%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was shown" is a very common and grammatically correct passive verb phrase used to indicate that something was displayed or revealed. As Ludwig AI confirms, it appears frequently in news, scientific, and formal contexts. While alternatives like "was displayed" or "was presented" exist, the choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Remember to avoid the incorrect form 'was showed' and ensure your sentence structure is clear when using this phrase.

FAQs

How can I use "was shown" in a sentence?

"Was shown" indicates that something was displayed or revealed. For example, "The presentation "was shown" to the board members".

What are some alternatives to using "was shown"?

Alternatives include "was displayed", "was presented", or "was revealed", depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "was shown" and "was displayed"?

While similar, "was shown" implies a directed action of presenting something, whereas "was displayed" suggests a more general visibility. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the act of showing or the state of being visible.

When is it appropriate to use "was shown" in formal writing?

"Was shown" is suitable for formal writing when describing how information or results were presented or made available. Ensure the sentence structure is clear and the context supports the passive voice.

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: