was sustained

USAGE SUMMARY

"was sustained" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is a past tense passive verb phrase, used to describe an action or state that occurred in the past and was continued or maintained. Example: The damage to the house was sustained during the hurricane. In this sentence, "was sustained" shows that the damage to the house occurred and continued during the hurricane. Other examples: - The player's injury was sustained during the game. - The company's success was sustained by its loyal customers. - The village's charm was sustained by its traditional practices.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The objection was sustained.

The New York Times

The demurrer was sustained.

Cornell University

6 His veto was sustained.

Cornell University

By contrast, bidding here was sustained.

The New York Times - Arts

His demurrer was sustained on March 6th.

Cornell University

Suppression of bacteremia was sustained throughout therapy.

Stanford University

This contraction was sustained throughout the swallow.

Nature

The applause was sustained and heartfelt.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The injury was sustained outside the centre".

The Guardian

His outrage was sustained and severe.

The New York Times - Sports

This assumption was sustained by impedance measurements.

Electrochimica Acta

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was sustained", ensure that the context clearly indicates what action or condition was being maintained or prolonged. This phrase works best when highlighting the continuation of something despite potential challenges or changes.

Common error

Avoid using "was sustained" when an active voice construction would be more direct and clear. For instance, instead of "The project was sustained by the team's efforts", consider "The team's efforts sustained the project" to emphasize the team's agency.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was sustained" functions as a passive verb phrase. It indicates that a subject underwent an action of being maintained, supported, or prolonged. This is evident in Ludwig examples like, "The economy was sustained on borrowed money and borrowed time."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

33%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the passive verb phrase "was sustained" is a versatile expression used to describe the continuation or maintenance of something over time. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and commonly used in diverse contexts, ranging from science and news to academia. The phrase carries a neutral formality and can be effectively employed to highlight the endurance or upholding of an action or condition. While alternatives like "was maintained" or "remained constant" exist, "was sustained" offers a nuanced emphasis on the active support or effort involved in prolonging the subject in question.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was maintained

Very close in meaning, but emphasizes a deliberate effort to keep something in a certain condition.

stayed consistent

Emphasizes the uniformity and lack of variation, while "was sustained" suggests effort to keep something going.

was kept up

More informal than "was sustained", implying a less formal effort to continue something.

remained constant

Focuses on the unchanging nature of something over time, differing from "was sustained" which implies active maintenance.

was prolonged

Focuses solely on the extension of duration, omitting the sense of active support present in "was sustained".

carried on

More colloquial than "was sustained", suggesting a less formal continuation of an activity.

continued uninterrupted

Highlights the lack of breaks or pauses, whereas "was sustained" implies potential challenges overcome.

persisted

Implies enduring through difficulties; "was sustained" does not necessarily include a challenge.

was upheld

Suggests a validation or confirmation, rather than just continuation of something like with "was sustained".

endured

Similar to "persisted", focusing on surviving hardships, unlike the more neutral "was sustained".

FAQs

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

"Was sustained" indicates that something was maintained or continued. For instance, "The company's growth was sustained by innovative marketing strategies."

What are some alternatives to "was sustained"?

You could use phrases like "was maintained", "remained constant", or "persisted", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "was sustained" or "sustained"?

The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the action or the subject receiving the action. "Was sustained" is passive, focusing on what received the action (e.g., "The momentum was sustained"), while "sustained" is active, focusing on who or what performed the action (e.g., "The team sustained the momentum").

What does it mean when an objection "was sustained" in a legal context?

In a legal context, if an objection "was sustained", it means the judge agreed with the objection and disallowed the question, evidence, or argument being presented.