was written by

USAGE SUMMARY

"was written by" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used to indicate the author or creator of a written work, such as a book, article, or song. Example: "The novel was written by a famous author."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was written by… DEPT.

The New Yorker

It was written by "Anonymous".

The New Yorker

Today's question was written by Shannon Doyne.

The New York Times

This was written by a poetry app.

The New Yorker

Later discovered it was written by Barrie.

The New Yorker

It was written by the devil".

The New Yorker

It was written by Judge Winter.

The New York Times

This was written by Welner.

The Washington Post

It was written by Anonymous.

The New York Times

It was written by me.

The New Yorker

"Sugar Babies" was written by Ralph Allen and Harry Rigby.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When attributing authorship, ensure you use "was written by" followed by the correct name or entity. Verify the authorship to maintain accuracy and credibility.

Common error

Avoid assuming authorship. Always confirm who wrote the piece before stating "was written by" followed by a name. Incorrect attribution can lead to misinformation and damage credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was written by" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating authorship. As supported by Ludwig, it is a common and correct way to express who created a written work, shifting the focus from the author's action to the work itself.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Academia

32%

Wiki

22%

Less common in

Science

7%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was written by" is a grammatically sound and very common expression used to attribute authorship in the passive voice. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely accepted across various domains, particularly in News & Media, Academia, and Wiki sources. While alternatives like "was authored by" and "was composed by" exist, ensuring accurate attribution remains crucial. Remember to verify authorship to maintain credibility and avoid misidentifying the author. This guide provides best practices, error avoidance tips, and answers to frequently asked questions to help you use the phrase effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was authored by

Replaces "written" with the synonym "authored", maintaining the passive voice and the focus on the author.

was composed by

Substitutes "written" with "composed", implying a more artistic or structured creation.

was penned by

Uses "penned" as a more literary and slightly archaic alternative to "written".

was created by

Replaces "written" with the more general term "created", suitable for works beyond text.

is the work of

Shifts the sentence structure to emphasize the work itself and its origin.

is attributed to

Indicates authorship or origin but can also imply uncertainty or indirect creation.

originated with

Focuses on the origin or source of the written work.

comes from the hand of

A more poetic and emphatic way of indicating authorship.

bears the signature of

Emphasizes the author's unique mark or style on the work.

has its roots in

Suggests the source or inspiration behind the written work.

FAQs

How can I use "was written by" in a sentence?

Use "was written by" to indicate the author of a text. For example, "The book "was written by" Jane Austen".

What are some alternatives to "was written by"?

Alternatives include "was authored by", "was composed by", or "is attributed to", depending on the context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "written by" or "was written by"?

"Written by" is correct in contexts like a book cover credit (e.g., "Written by John Doe"). "Was written by" is used in a sentence to indicate the author in the passive voice (e.g., "The article "was written by" a team of researchers").

What is the difference between "written by" and "edited by"?

"Written by" indicates the author, while "edited by" indicates the person who revised and prepared the text for publication. A book "was written by" one person and then edited by another.