was stopped

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was stopped" is correct and can be used in written English.
It can be used when talking about an action that has been halted or interrupted. For example: "The shooting of the film was stopped due to the rain."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That's what was stopped".

The New York Times

I was stopped short.

The New York Times

The bleeding was stopped.

The New York Times

The game was stopped.

The New Yorker

"Everything was stopped".

The New York Times - Sports

Mining was stopped.

The New York Times

The army was stopped.

The New York Times

The counterattack was stopped.

Encyclopedia Britannica

My momentum was stopped.

The Guardian - Sport

His allowance was stopped.

The Guardian

He was stopped short.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was stopped", ensure the context clearly indicates what or who performed the action of stopping. For example, "The car was stopped by the police" provides clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "was stopped" in contexts where the agent of the action is unclear. Ambiguous sentences like "The project was stopped" leave the reader wondering who or what caused the cessation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was stopped" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject of the sentence received the action of being stopped. As shown by Ludwig, it commonly appears to describe events that have been interrupted or terminated.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

7%

Social Media

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was stopped" is a grammatically sound and very common passive voice construction used to indicate that something has been brought to a halt. As Ludwig AI confirms, it sees widespread use across diverse contexts like news, science and encyclopedias. While versatile, clarity is key: ensure the context makes it clear who or what initiated the stopping action. For stylistic variety, consider synonyms like "was halted" or "was intercepted" depending on the intended nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was halted

Replaces "stopped" with a synonym, implying a more formal or abrupt cessation.

was intercepted

Suggests that something was stopped while in transit or progress, often implying a deliberate action.

was prevented

Focuses on the aspect of preventing something from happening or continuing.

was ceased

A more formal synonym for "stopped", indicating a complete termination.

was terminated

Implies a more definitive and often official end to something.

was discontinued

Suggests a deliberate decision to end something, often a process or service.

was blocked

Indicates that something's path or progress was obstructed.

was checked

Suggests a temporary halt or slowing down of progress.

was arrested

Implies being stopped by authority or by a sudden impediment.

was suppressed

Conveys that something was forcibly stopped or kept under control.

FAQs

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

Use "was stopped" when describing an action or process that has been brought to a halt by an external force or decision. For example: "The game "was stopped" due to rain".

What's a good alternative to "was stopped"?

Depending on the context, alternatives include "was halted", "was intercepted", or "was prevented". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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

While "was stopped" (passive voice) is correct, active voice can sometimes be more direct and clear. For example, instead of "The shipment was stopped by customs", you could say "Customs stopped the shipment".

What does "was stopped" imply about the action being described?

"Was stopped" suggests that an action or process in progress was interrupted or brought to an end, often by an external force or decision. It does not necessarily imply a permanent end, but rather a cessation at a particular point in time.