was widely circulated

USAGE SUMMARY

"was widely circulated" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when something (ideas, information, stories, rumors, etc.) has been spread among a large number of people. For example, "The story of the celebrity's divorce was widely circulated on social media."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

The story, Crick says, was widely circulated.

The New Yorker

The picture was widely circulated.

The New York Times - Arts

Mare Liberum was widely circulated and often reprinted.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The manual was "widely circulated" in the Middle East, the official added.

The New York Times

His essay was widely circulated in intellectual circles -- on paper and by e-mail.

The New York Times

The article, which was ten thousand words long, was widely circulated, but criticism quickly followed.

The New Yorker

The nearly 300-page document was widely circulated after his death.

The Guardian

The statement was widely circulated among people who support the imam's project, Rabbi Matalon said.

The New York Times

The video was widely circulated, provoking calls for the mayor's ouster.

The New York Times

Originally broadcast on PBS, "Style Wars" developed a cult following over the years and was widely circulated in bootleg copies.

The New York Times

Cellphone video of the shooting was widely circulated on social media and prompted outrage in San Francisco's black community.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was widely circulated", ensure the subject clearly identifies what was distributed (e.g., "The report", "The video", "The rumor") and the context in which it was spread (e.g., "on social media", "within the company", "among academics").

Common error

Avoid using "was widely circulated" with overly general subjects like "information" or "news". Instead, specify the exact item being circulated to provide more clarity and impact. For instance, use "The leaked memo was widely circulated" instead of "The information was widely circulated".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was widely circulated" functions as a passive construction indicating the widespread distribution of something. Ludwig AI suggests that it is correctly used to describe how information, documents, or media are spread among a large group of people.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

86%

Wiki

8%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Science

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was widely circulated" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe the widespread distribution of information or materials. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, with its primary function being to inform the audience that something has been disseminated extensively. While versatile, writers should ensure clarity by specifying the subject being circulated and the context of its distribution. For more formal alternatives, consider "was broadly disseminated" or "was extensively distributed". While acceptable in casual writing, alternatives like "was extensively shared" might be preferred.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was broadly disseminated

This alternative uses a more formal and technical term for spreading information.

was extensively distributed

This alternative emphasizes the scale and scope of the distribution.

was popularly disseminated

This emphasizes that its destination was a large amount of people, and not a specific group.

was frequently propagated

This option focuses on the active spreading or promotion of something.

was commonly relayed

This suggests the information was passed on from one person or group to another frequently.

was extensively shared

This emphasizes that it was given to a lot of people.

was extensively reproduced

This highlights that it was replicated and copied a lot of times.

was heavily publicized

This option emphasizes the efforts made to increase awareness.

reached a broad audience

This alternative focuses on the extent of the audience that received the information.

gained widespread currency

This alternative implies that the information became widely accepted and used.

FAQs

How can I use "was widely circulated" in a sentence?

You can use "was widely circulated" to describe how a piece of information, a document, or a rumor spread among a large group of people. For example, "The memo "was widely circulated" among the staff".

What's a more formal alternative to "was widely circulated"?

More formal alternatives to "was widely circulated" include "was broadly disseminated", or "was extensively distributed". These options are suitable for academic or professional contexts.

Is it okay to use "was widely circulated" in informal writing?

Yes, "was widely circulated" is acceptable in informal writing, although alternatives like "was extensively shared" or "became widely known" may be more common in casual contexts.

What's the difference between "was widely circulated" and "was widely believed"?

"Was widely circulated" indicates that information was spread to many people, while "was widely believed" means that many people accepted something as true. A rumor "was widely circulated" but not necessarily "was widely believed".