was written

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was written" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something was composed or created in the past, often referring to texts, documents, or literary works. Example: "The novel was written in the early 20th century and has since become a classic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was written Thursday.

The New York Times - Sports

No obituary was written.

The New York Times

A lot was written.

The New York Times

Everything was written in German".

The New York Times

The piece was written earlier.

The New York Times - Arts

Inside was written: To Grandma.

Independent

And so it was written.

The New Yorker

It was written by… DEPT.

The New Yorker

It was written by "Anonymous".

The New Yorker

"Very little was written then".

The New York Times - Arts

History was written.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was written" in passive voice constructions where the action is more important than the actor, such as when the author is unknown or the focus is on the text itself.

Common error

Avoid using active voice when the passive voice with "was written" is more appropriate. For instance, instead of "Someone wrote the letter", use "The letter "was written"" if the writer is unknown or unimportant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was written" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject of the sentence received the action of writing. It's commonly used when the writer is unknown or unimportant, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Wiki

14%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was written" is a common and grammatically correct passive construction used to indicate that a text has been created, often when the author is unknown or the focus is on the text itself. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriateness in various contexts, with a strong presence in news media, encyclopedias, and scientific publications. While the phrase is versatile, it's crucial to use it accurately to avoid misusing active voice, and it can often be swapped for alternatives that are semantically related, like "was composed" or "was authored".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was composed

Replaces "written" with a synonym, emphasizing the act of creation or arrangement of elements.

was authored

Substitutes "written" with a term that specifically highlights the role of the author.

was penned

Uses a more literary or archaic term for writing, implying a crafted or thoughtful composition.

was drafted

Suggests the text went through a process of creation and refinement.

was created

General term emphasizing the act of bringing something into existence, applicable to various types of content.

was formulated

Suggests a careful and methodical process of developing a plan or statement.

originated as

Focuses on the beginning or source of the written material.

came into being as

Emphasizes the emergence or development of the written work.

took shape as

Implies the gradual development and structuring of the written piece.

was put on paper

Highlights the physical act of writing and recording information.

FAQs

How is the passive voice "was written" used in a sentence?

The passive voice with "was written" emphasizes the action rather than the actor. For example, "The report "was written" by a team of experts" focuses on the report's creation, but the phrase can be reworded to "A team of experts "wrote" the report" to emphasize the team.

What are some alternatives to the phrase "was written"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "was composed", "was authored", or "was penned" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "was wrote" instead of "was written"?

No, "was wrote" is grammatically incorrect. The correct past participle of the verb "write" is "written", so the proper phrase is "was written".

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

"Was written" indicates that something was written in the past, while "is written" indicates that something is currently written or is a general characteristic. For example, "The book "was written" in 1990" versus "The book "is written" in simple language".