hearings were held

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hearings were held" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where formal meetings or sessions are conducted to discuss or investigate a particular issue or topic. Example: "The committee announced that hearings were held to gather public opinion on the proposed legislation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The advisory committee hearings were held to allow a disinterested panel of experts a chance to hear the company and those who had strong opinions about implants.

The New York Times

Hearings were held.

The New York Times

Rehnquist's confirmation hearings were held in November, 1971.

The New Yorker

(Congressional hearings were held, and new oversight legislation resulted).

The New Yorker

I saw a house where preliminary hearings were held.

The Guardian - Travel

Three public hearings were held on the issue.

The New York Times

Some hearings were held recently at which lawmakers spoke sternly, even with outrage, to military witnesses.

The New York Times

Hearings were held in 1986 & 1988 to determine if Adams should be granted a new trial.

The New Yorker

No legislative hearings — or, for that matter, court hearings — were held.

The New York Times

Hearings were held at a law office in Cleveland, but the investigation was never completed.

The New York Times

Hearings were held by the commission's Personnel Security Board, which asked Dr. Teller to appear.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When reporting on legal or governmental procedures, use "hearings were held" to clearly indicate that formal sessions took place to gather information or make decisions. For example: "Congressional "hearings were held" to investigate the matter."

Common error

Avoid replacing the passive construction "hearings were held" with an active construction that obscures who conducted the hearings. For instance, instead of saying "The committee held hearings", use "hearings were held by the committee" if emphasizing the process is more important than specifying the actor.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hearings were held" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that formal meetings or sessions took place. It emphasizes the event itself rather than the actor performing the action. As indicated by Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically sound and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

86%

Science

9%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hearings were held" is a grammatically correct and very common passive voice construction used to report that formal meetings or sessions have occurred. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a sound and usable phrase. Its primary function is to inform about these proceedings, often in neutral to professional registers, particularly within News & Media. While alternatives like "proceedings took place" or "sessions were conducted" exist, the original phrase remains widely accepted and understood. When using it, ensure the passive voice aligns with the desired emphasis on the event rather than the actor. This makes the phrase appropriate for official reporting and factual accounts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

proceedings took place

Replaces "hearings" with "proceedings" and uses "took place" for a slightly more formal tone.

sessions were conducted

Substitutes "hearings" with "sessions" and "held" with "conducted", implying a structured event.

inquiries were conducted

Replaces "hearings" with "inquiries," suggesting a more investigative approach.

discussions occurred

Uses "discussions" in place of "hearings", indicating a less formal exchange.

tribunals convened

Employs "tribunals convened" to denote a more judicial or authoritative setting.

forums were organized

Replaces "hearings" with "forums", implying a more open and public discussion.

investigations commenced

Swaps "hearings" with "investigations," focusing on the investigative nature of the process.

reviews were undertaken

Replaces "hearings" with "reviews", suggesting a more evaluative process.

consultations were arranged

Uses "consultations" to imply a collaborative and advisory process.

deliberations transpired

Replaces "hearings" with "deliberations" and uses "transpired" for a more formal and literary tone.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "hearings were held" to sound more formal?

You could use phrases like "proceedings took place" or "sessions were conducted" to convey a more formal tone than "hearings were held".

What's a less formal alternative to "hearings were held"?

For a less formal context, consider using "discussions occurred" which implies a more casual exchange of information.

Is it grammatically correct to say "hearings was held" instead of "hearings were held"?

No, "hearings was held" is grammatically incorrect. Since "hearings" is plural, the correct verb conjugation is "were". Therefore, the correct phrase is "hearings were held".

In what contexts is it appropriate to use the phrase "hearings were held"?

The phrase "hearings were held" is appropriate in contexts where formal meetings or sessions are conducted to discuss or investigate a particular issue, especially in legal, governmental, or organizational settings.