communications were obtained

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "communications were obtained" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are discussing the acquisition or receipt of information or messages, often in formal or official reports. Example: "After thorough investigation, it was confirmed that communications were obtained from various sources regarding the incident."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The country's Prime Minister John Key said some communications were obtained "without statutory authority".

BBC

Records of peer educator and other volunteer numbers, expenditures on medical and non-medical supplies as well as daily transport, building operating and maintenance costs (including communications) were obtained from project monitoring documentation and accounts.

BMC Public Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Closed-form expressions for the outage probability and average transmission time for point-to-point communications are obtained.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

The communications, most of which were obtained through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, show that it was early 2015 when the EPA and Monsanto began working in concert to stall a toxicology review that a unit tied to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDCC) was conducting on glyphosate, the key ingredient in Monsanto's branded Roundup herbicide products.

Huffington Post

The addresses of corresponding authors of original articles including short communications, and review papers were obtained.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Survey instruments from unpublished studies were obtained through communications with colleagues.

BMC Women's Health

A questionnaire was prepared to collect basic socio-demographic information.> -wrap-foot> informationtion and communications technology Official lists of students were obtained at each university, and classrooms were visited with support of university authorities, academic coordinators and students' delegates.

Human Resources for Health

For studies where AF data were unpublished, safety data were obtained from the European Medicines Agency (EMeA) website and personal communications.

Heart

Data were obtained from official national organizations, international public health organizations, personal communications, MEDLINE, online articles and the scientific literature.

BMC Infectious Diseases

We are glad that the House added a clause to the bill clarifying the content of communications cannot be obtained with Section 215.

TechCrunch

The bill, which was introduced in the House early last year and quickly found bipartisan support, updates the 1986 Electronic Communications Privacy Act, closing a loophole that allowed emails and other communications to be obtained without a warrant.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "communications were obtained", ensure the context clearly indicates the source and method of obtaining the communications to maintain transparency and credibility.

Common error

Avoid using "communications were obtained" without specifying who obtained them. This lack of clarity can weaken your writing and leave the reader wondering about the source of the communications.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "communications were obtained" functions as the predicate of a passive sentence, indicating that communications were the recipient of an action. As noted by Ludwig, it follows standard grammatical rules. In examples where the agent performing the action is not explicitly stated, it functions to emphasize the communications themselves.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

58%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "communications were obtained" is a grammatically sound passive phrase used to indicate the acquisition of messages or data. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. Its frequency is uncommon. It is commonly found in neutral contexts such as News & Media and scientific publications, where objectivity and clarity are valued. While versatile, specifying the actor performing the action can enhance clarity and impact. Alternative phrasing such as "messages were received" or "data was gathered" can provide semantic nuance. The best practice is to be explicit of the entities who obtained the communications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

messages were received

Replaces "communications" with "messages" and uses the verb "received" instead of "obtained".

information was acquired

Substitutes "communications" with the broader term "information" and "obtained" with "acquired".

data was gathered

Replaces "communications" with "data" and "obtained" with "gathered", suggesting a more active collection process.

reports were collected

Focuses on "reports" as the specific type of communication and uses "collected" to imply gathering from different sources.

intelligence was gathered

Emphasizes "intelligence" implying a deliberate effort to gather information for strategic purposes.

correspondence was received

Uses "correspondence" to highlight written communications, and "received" to indicate passive acquisition.

documents were procured

Replaces "communications" with "documents" and "obtained" with "procured", suggesting a formal acquisition process.

records were accessed

Focuses on "records" as the type of communication and "accessed" to indicate gaining entry or permission.

transmissions were intercepted

Highlights the act of "intercepting" communications, implying a clandestine or unauthorized acquisition.

evidence was secured

Substitutes with "evidence" and "secured", suggesting obtaining something for legal or investigative purposes.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "communications were obtained" to be more specific?

To be more specific, you can replace "communications were obtained" with phrases like "messages were received", "data was gathered", or "documents were procured", depending on the context.

Is it better to use an active or passive voice when describing how communications were obtained?

While "communications were obtained" is grammatically correct, using an active voice can make your writing more direct and clear. For example, instead of "communications were obtained", you could say "the FBI obtained the communications".

What is the difference between saying "communications were obtained" and "communications were intercepted"?

"Communications were obtained" is a general statement about acquiring communications, while "transmissions were intercepted" implies that the communications were acquired secretly or without authorization.

In what contexts is it most appropriate to use the phrase "communications were obtained"?

The phrase "communications were obtained" is suitable for formal or official reports, legal documents, or academic papers where a neutral and objective tone is required. Consider alternative phrasings like "information was acquired" for a less formal context.