was thanked

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was thanked" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone received gratitude or appreciation for something they did in the past. Example: "After the presentation, she was thanked by the audience for her insightful remarks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She was thanked for her time.

The New Yorker

For this achievement he was thanked by Congress and promoted.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In Southampton's statement, Adkins was thanked for his services.

Independent

She was thanked for the glass of water.

The New Yorker

He was thanked for not mentioning that before takeoff.

The New York Times

George Palmer was thanked with a cigar and a signed copy of the PM's autobiography.

The Guardian - Opinion

When "Reanimation" was released, he, unlike Mr. Blue, was thanked in the album notes.

The New York Times - Arts

Another Twitter user, ‏@Siobhan_BM, was thanked by Rowling for her comments despite the two's political disagreements.

The Guardian - Books

He agreed to testify, assured the committee that he had no sympathy for Communism, and was thanked for coöperating.

The New Yorker

One father was thanked for continuing to help the Dallas Cowboys win from his perch in heaven.

The New York Times

He was thanked by strangers in the street for his sacrifices when he returned from exile last week.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was thanked" to clearly indicate that someone received appreciation for a specific action or contribution. It's particularly useful in formal writing or when detailing events in chronological order.

Common error

Avoid using "was thanked" when you actually want to express who did the thanking. If you want to say who offered thanks, use an active construction such as "The team thanked her" instead of "She was thanked by the team".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was thanked" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject received gratitude. According to Ludwig AI the examples from the dataset confirm this usage, showing various contexts in which individuals or entities received thanks for their actions or contributions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was thanked" is a commonly used passive construction indicating that someone received appreciation. According to Ludwig AI it is grammatically correct and appears frequently in news and media contexts. When using this phrase, be mindful of its passive nature and ensure it accurately conveys who received the gratitude. If you need to specify the giver of thanks, consider using an active voice construction. Remember also to refer to related phrases to choose the expression that best fits the situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

received gratitude

Focuses on the reception of gratitude rather than the act of thanking.

was appreciated

Emphasizes the feeling of being valued, closely related to being thanked.

was commended

Suggests a formal expression of approval or praise, a stronger form of thanks.

was acknowledged

Highlights that someone's contribution was recognized, implying thanks.

earned praise

Focuses on the deserving nature of the thanks received.

garnered appreciation

Implies that the appreciation was accumulated or collected from multiple sources.

was given recognition

Focuses on the formal aspect of acknowledging someone's efforts.

was celebrated

Implies a joyful and public expression of gratitude.

had gratitude expressed to them

Rephrases the passive voice into a more complex structure, emphasizing the expression of gratitude.

was toasted

Suggests a celebratory expression of thanks, often involving raising a glass.

FAQs

How do I use "was thanked" in a sentence?

Use "was thanked" to indicate that someone received appreciation or gratitude for something they did. For example, "The volunteer "was thanked" for their dedication".

What's a more formal way to say "was thanked"?

More formal alternatives include phrases like "was acknowledged", "was commended", or "received gratitude". These options are suitable for professional or academic writing.

Is it correct to say "was thanked by"?

Yes, "was thanked by" is grammatically correct and specifies who expressed the gratitude. For instance, "The speaker "was thanked by" the audience".

What are some common synonyms for "was thanked"?

Synonyms for "was thanked" include "was appreciated", "was recognized", or "was celebrated", depending on the context.