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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
actions were made
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "actions were made" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly as "made" implies a physical creation rather than an action being performed. Example: "The actions were made to improve the team's performance."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
News & Media
Science
Wiki
Alternative expressions(3)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
12 human-written examples
Comparisons of drug actions were made versus baseline values.
Science
Such scrutiny of day-to-day decisions of the Executive Branch would be bound to occur if civil damages actions were made available to private individuals.
Academia
Those actions were made possible by a Supreme Court ruling in June 2004 that detainees could use the civilian court system to challenge their imprisonment.
News & Media
Despite his Brazilian accent causing mockery among some Colombians, Moura created a compellingly complex villain – one whose actions were made all the more shocking by their proximity to historical fact.
News & Media
Frequent diagnoses and therapeutic actions were made, but health impact of these measures cannot be measured.
Science
If no actions were made on a hostile aircraft within 15 s (the minimal time delay between two critical changes), the change was considered undetected.
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
48 human-written examples
Mr. Adams said that Emergent's suit was without merit and that its actions were making it difficult for Protein Sciences to attract new investors.
News & Media
And I warned the president over and over that his actions were making it impossible for me to do what he wanted me to do".
News & Media
Dawson commented that Darren and Jack are so desperate that "everything seemed easy", but added that they realise their actions were making the situation worse.
Wiki
Actions are made towards the use of community-generated information to support land administration.
Science
Simple actions are shown in Table 4. Compound actions are made up by simple and compound actions associated by parallel or sequential operators.
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Prefer using "actions were taken" or "actions were performed" for grammatical correctness.
Common error
Avoid using "made" to describe actions, as it typically implies creation or construction, not the performance of activities. The verb "take" or "perform" is more appropriate in this context.
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "actions were made" functions as a passive construction where the subject receives the action. As Ludwig AI points out, this construction is generally considered grammatically incorrect because "made" is typically used to describe creation rather than the performance of an action.
Frequent in
News & Media
33%
Science
42%
Wiki
25%
Less common in
Academia
0%
Formal & Business
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, while the phrase "actions were made" appears in a variety of sources, including news and scientific publications, it's considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI suggests that the phrase is usually misused. A more appropriate alternative is to use "actions were taken" or "actions were performed". Therefore, writers should avoid "actions were made" to maintain clarity and grammatical accuracy in their writing.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
actions were taken
Replaces "made" with the more grammatically appropriate "taken" to describe actions.
actions were performed
Uses "performed" instead of "made" to emphasize the execution of actions.
steps were undertaken
Emphasizes the initiation of a process or series of actions.
decisions were made
Focuses on the decision-making aspect, where choices are formulated.
choices were implemented
Highlights that choices or options have been put into effect.
measures were enacted
Highlights the formal establishment of specific measures or policies.
plans were executed
Focuses on the completion and carrying out of a strategic plan.
strategies were developed
Emphasizes the creation and evolution of strategic approaches.
initiatives were launched
Highlights the commencement and promotion of new projects.
moves were initiated
Focuses on the commencement of specific strategic actions or changes.
FAQs
What can I say instead of "actions were made"?
You can use alternatives like "actions were taken" or "actions were performed" depending on the context.
Which is correct, "actions were made" or "actions were taken"?
"Actions were taken" is grammatically more correct than "actions were made", as "made" implies creation rather than performance.
How to use "actions were taken" in a sentence?
Example: "After the review, actions were taken to improve the process efficiency."
What's the difference between "actions were made" and "decisions were made"?
"Decisions were made" implies a choice was formulated, whereas "actions were made" (though grammatically questionable) suggests activities were carried out. In general, consider using actions were taken instead of actions were made.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested