changes were made

USAGE SUMMARY

"changes were made" is correct and can be used in written English.
Example sentence: "Due to the new regulations, changes were made to the supervisor's job requirements."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She concludes, "Changes were made".

The New York Times - Books

Changes were made, however.

The New York Times

So changes were made.

The New York Times - Food

Changes were made in phraseology.

Cornell University

Two important changes were made.

Stanford University

The changes were made for a reason.

The New York Times

These changes were made on July 23rd.

The Economist

Changes were made in phraseology and arrangement.

Cornell University

Numerous changes were made in phraseology.

Cornell University

Changes were made in arrangement and phraseology.

Cornell University

Other changes were made in phraseology.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "changes were made" to clearly indicate that alterations or modifications have occurred, especially when the actor performing the change is not the focus.

Common error

Ensure that when you state "changes were made", the context provides clarity on what specific aspects were altered and ideally, why those changes were necessary.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "changes were made" functions as a passive construction indicating that alterations or modifications have occurred. As seen in Ludwig's examples, this phrase is used to convey that something has been altered without necessarily specifying who performed the action.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "changes were made" is a common and grammatically correct passive construction used to indicate that alterations or modifications have occurred. Ludwig confirms its validity and widespread use across various contexts. It's particularly frequent in news, academic, and scientific writing, serving the purpose of informing about modifications without necessarily specifying the actor. While versatile, it's advisable to provide context regarding the nature and reasons for the changes to enhance clarity. Alternatives like "modifications were implemented" or "alterations were carried out" can add nuanced emphasis. Understanding the phrase's function and potential substitutes allows for more precise and impactful communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Modifications were implemented

Focuses on the act of putting changes into effect, implying a formal or systematic process.

Alterations were carried out

Highlights the execution of changes, suggesting a more hands-on or practical approach.

Revisions were incorporated

Emphasizes the integration of changes, implying a refinement or improvement process.

Adjustments were effected

Implies that the changes had a direct influence on something, causing a specific result.

Amendments were introduced

Suggests the formal addition of changes, often in legal or official contexts.

Transformations were enacted

Highlights that the changes caused a huge effect.

Improvements were realized

Highlights that the changes lead to positive effects.

Innovations were developed

Highlights the creative changes that lead to progress.

Actions were taken

Focuses on the actions that lead to some kind of change.

Steps were performed

Focuses on the series of changes that where applied.

FAQs

How can I use "changes were made" in a sentence?

You can use "changes were made" to indicate that something has been altered or modified. For example, "After the review, "changes were made" to the report".

What's a formal alternative to "changes were made"?

More formal alternatives include "modifications were implemented", "alterations were carried out", or "revisions were incorporated". Each of these "alternatives" emphasizes a slightly different aspect of the change process.

Is it correct to say "change was made" instead of "changes were made"?

While grammatically possible if referring to a singular change, "change was made" is less common. It's generally more appropriate to use the plural form, ""changes were made"", especially when multiple modifications are involved.

What's the difference between "changes were made" and "changes were implemented"?

"Changes were made" is a general statement that alterations occurred. "Changes were implemented" suggests that the changes were put into effect in a planned or systematic way.