assigned them

USAGE SUMMARY

"assigned them" is correct and can be used in written English.
You could use it when you are assigning something to someone; for example, "The teacher assigned them a group project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

I hadn't assigned them.

The Guardian

He assigned them classes — not to watch but to teach.

The New York Times - Arts

For refusing, in other words, to play the parts he had assigned them.

The Guardian - Film

After training, he assigned them to Qaeda cells elsewhere in the world.

The New York Times

(Odyssey had assigned them a value of just under four million dollars).

The New Yorker

If it's below the price that Citi has assigned them, the bank could face further losses.

The New York Times

He designed their outfits and assigned them names: Niza, Serefina, Teresa, Josefina, Graciela.

The New York Times

Upon arriving, guests were also handed cards that assigned them the roles of various animals.

The New York Times - Food

But I got to work, wrote the book and assigned them fictitious names.

The New York Times

Lowe then randomly assigned them to one of four maintenance regimes.

The New Yorker

Members of the caucus have a similar sense of the role history has assigned them.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "assigned them", ensure that the context clearly indicates both the assigner and the items or roles being assigned. For instance, "The manager assigned them roles based on their expertise."

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by explicitly stating what is being assigned. For example, instead of "The team leader assigned them", specify "The team leader assigned them tasks for the project."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "assigned them" functions as a transitive verb phrase where "assigned" is the verb and "them" is the direct object. It indicates the action of allocating or designating something to a group of people. As shown in Ludwig, it is frequently used in a variety of contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

48%

Formal & Business

18%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "assigned them" is a grammatically correct and very common verb phrase used to indicate the act of allocating something to a group. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is widespread across various contexts, particularly in news, media and scientific writing. While the phrase itself is straightforward, clarity is crucial, so it is important to specify what is being assigned to whom. Alternatives like "allocated them" or "tasked them with" can be used depending on the context. It is important to avoid ambiguity by explicitly stating the subject being assigned and to whom it is assigned.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

allocated those to them

Replaces "assigned" with "allocated", slightly changing the connotation to emphasize distribution.

appointed them to

Implies a formal or official assignment.

designated them for

Focuses on the purpose or role for which they are assigned.

delegated those to them

Emphasizes the act of entrusting tasks or duties.

tasked them with

Highlights the assignment of a specific task.

entrusted them with

Suggests a level of trust and confidence in the individuals assigned.

gave them the responsibility

Shifts focus to the responsibility aspect of assignment.

put them in charge of

Highlights assigning authority or control.

placed them in

Emphasizes the action of putting someone in a particular position or role.

handed those over to them

Emphasizes the physical transfer of something assigned.

FAQs

How can I use "assigned them" in a sentence?

Use "assigned them" to indicate the act of allocating or designating something to a group. For example, "The teacher assigned them homework" or "The coach assigned them positions on the field."

What are some alternatives to "assigned them"?

You can use alternatives like "allocated them", "delegated to them", or "tasked them with depending on the specific context".

Is it correct to say "assigned it to them" instead of "assigned them"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "Assigned it to them" refers to a single item being assigned to a group, while "assigned them" suggests multiple items, roles, or responsibilities being assigned.

What's the difference between "assigned them" and "gave them"?

"Assigned them" typically implies a formal or official allocation of tasks, roles, or responsibilities. "Gave them", on the other hand, is a more general term that can refer to any kind of giving, not necessarily an official assignment. The connotation depends on the context of the phrase.