was telephoned

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was telephoned" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone received a phone call in the past. Example: "She was telephoned by her colleague to discuss the project updates."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

Anne Dodd was telephoned.

The New Yorker

I was telephoned, and when I answered I was abused by the child.

The New Yorker

"I was telephoned in Beijing on Christmas Eve and told that it had happened," he says.

The New Yorker

Goodwin was telephoned by Kerslake in the afternoon to be told the news.

The Guardian - Business

He describes how he was telephoned by a company in Texas that was fighting the SEC and its auditors.

The Economist

Once, Coren was telephoned by a woman named Josephine, who was having trouble with her Rottweiler, Bluto.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

It wasn't me who was telephoning.

Independent

To stimulate participation, survivors were telephoned.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Wherever possible, participants who had missed questions were telephoned.

British Medical Journal

Once identified, patients were telephoned and invited to participate.

BMJ Open

Fifteen of the 77 were telephoned and interviewed.

BMC Geriatrics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was telephoned" when you want to specifically emphasize that the communication occurred via telephone, rather than another medium like email or text message.

Common error

Avoid using "was telephoned" when the active voice is more appropriate and direct. For example, instead of "He was telephoned by the manager", consider "The manager telephoned him".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was telephoned" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that someone received a phone call. It is formed using the auxiliary verb "was" and the past participle of the verb "telephone". Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

23%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was telephoned" is a grammatically sound and commonly used passive voice construction that indicates the act of receiving a telephone call. According to Ludwig, this phrase is considered correct and appropriate for use in written English. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts, with a slightly formal tone suitable for professional communication. While alternatives such as "received a call" or "was contacted by phone" exist, "was telephoned" remains a clear and effective way to convey this specific action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

received a call

Focuses on the act of receiving the call, rather than the method of communication.

was contacted by phone

Explicitly mentions the use of a phone for contacting someone.

was called

A more general term for initiating a phone conversation.

got a phone call

Similar to 'received a call', but slightly more informal.

had a telephone conversation with

Highlights the conversational aspect of the phone call.

was reached by telephone

Emphasizes that someone managed to get in touch using a telephone.

was spoken to on the phone

More descriptive, emphasizing the spoken interaction.

heard from someone by phone

Focuses on receiving information or communication.

was on the receiving end of a phone call

A more verbose way to describe receiving a phone call.

had someone call them

Highlights that someone initiated the call.

FAQs

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

You can use "was telephoned" to indicate that someone received a phone call, especially when the caller is significant or the context involves a formal setting. For example, "The witness "was telephoned" by the detective to schedule an interview".

What are some alternatives to "was telephoned"?

Alternatives include "received a call", "was contacted by phone", or simply "was called". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is "was telephoned" formal or informal?

"Was telephoned" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. Simpler alternatives like "was called" may be more appropriate in informal contexts.

What is the difference between "was telephoned" and "telephoned"?

"Was telephoned" is in the passive voice, focusing on the recipient of the call. "Telephoned" is in the active voice, focusing on the caller. For instance, "She "was telephoned" by the director" (passive) versus "The director telephoned her" (active).