was turned off

USAGE SUMMARY

"was turned off" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that the action of turning something off has already taken place. Example sentence: The lights in the room were turned off when we left.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

His phone was turned off.

The New Yorker

The Pitocin drip was turned off.

The New Yorker

"Honestly, I was turned off by him".

The New York Times

The heat was turned off.

The New York Times

The current was turned off.

The Washington Post

The battery was turned off.

The New York Times

The power was turned off.

The Guardian - Music

It was turned off for the wedding.

The New York Times

Let me breath". Then the switch was turned off.

Cornell University

When this gene was turned off, tumor cells stopped growing.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Sometimes it was turned off entirely.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was turned off", ensure the context clearly indicates what action or device is being deactivated. For example, "The engine was turned off after the vehicle reached its destination" is more precise than "It was turned off."

Common error

Avoid using "was turned off" without a clear referent. For instance, instead of saying "The system malfunctioned and it was turned off", specify "The system malfunctioned and the server was turned off" to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was turned off" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that an action (turning off) was performed on a subject. This aligns with Ludwig AI's assessment of its correctness and usability in written English. It is a common way to describe the state of something being deactivated.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

44%

Academia

11%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was turned off" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction. According to Ludwig AI, it is suitable for indicating that something has been deactivated. Its prevalence spans across diverse contexts, including news, scientific research, and academic writing. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by explicitly stating what has been deactivated. Remember, while simpler alternatives such as "was deactivated" or "was shut down" exist, the core meaning remains consistent. Overall, "was turned off" is a reliable and versatile phrase for describing a past deactivation, and it is considered grammatically correct according to Ludwig.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was switched off

Implies a manual action of deactivation using a switch.

was shut down

Suggests a complete halting of operation, often in a system.

was deactivated

Focuses on a more formal or technical deactivation.

was powered down

Highlights the removal of electrical power as the means of deactivation.

was disabled

Indicates that something was made unable to function.

was disconnected

Highlights the severing of a connection, leading to deactivation.

was ceased

Emphasizes the termination of an activity or process.

was stopped

A more general term for bringing something to a halt.

was interrupted

Focuses on the disruption of an ongoing process.

was suspended

Suggests a temporary cessation of activity.

FAQs

How can I use "was turned off" in a sentence?

The phrase "was turned off" indicates that something has been deactivated. For example, "The lights in the office /s/were turned off/ after everyone left" or "The machine /s/was turned off/ for maintenance".

What's a simple alternative to "was turned off"?

A simpler alternative could be /s/"was deactivated/" or /s/"was shut down/" depending on the context. For example, "The alarm system /s/was deactivated/" or "The computer /s/was shut down/".

Is "was turned off" grammatically correct?

Yes, "was turned off" is grammatically correct. It's a passive construction indicating a past action. Ludwig confirms its validity and usability in various contexts.

What's the difference between "was turned off" and "is turned off"?

"Was turned off" refers to a past event, while "is turned off" indicates a current state. For example, "The television /s/was turned off/ last night" (past) versus "The television /s/is turned off/ right now" (present).