slips were sent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slips were sent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the action of sending slips, such as documents, receipts, or notifications, in a past context. Example: "After the meeting, slips were sent to all participants to confirm their attendance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Pink slips were sent out Friday.

The New York Times

Pink slips were sent to almost half the city's 472 employees, though some of those layoffs, which do not take effect until September, might be rescinded if the outsourcing bids do not meet expectations.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

An invitation package which included a self-explanatory introduction letter, a sample log-form and a reply slip was sent to each of the aforementioned 277 doctors from November to December 2008.

BMC Infectious Diseases

For cases lacking telephone contact, follow-up letters with tear-off reply slips inviting participation were sent.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Of the 777 New York City school employees who were sent pink slips two weeks ago, 672 lost their jobs on Friday in the largest single-agency layoff since Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg took office in 2002.

The New York Times

Parents whose teenage children had been offered places in Grey Coat's sixth form were sent a reply slip earlier this month asking them to confirm whether or not they would accept the place, use it as a back-up offer or turn it down.

Independent

More than three-quarters of sick children referred from clinics to a higher level were sent without a referral slip.

BMC Pediatrics

For cases in which no telephone contact was made following repeated attempts, follow-up letters were sent with a tear-off reply slip inviting participation.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health

Prospective participants were sent a letter of invite with a slip to return, or email response, to express interest.

BMJ Open

Parents were sent an information sheet about the study and a reply slip with a consent form to let their children take part in the study.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

All remaining patients were sent letters from their GP inviting them to participate in the study; together with information sheets, reply slips and free post envelopes.

BMC Family Practice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "slips were sent", ensure the context clearly indicates what type of slips are being referred to (e.g., pink slips, reply slips, referral slips) for better clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "slips were sent" without specifying what the slips contain or represent. Ambiguity can confuse the reader; provide context such as "permission slips" or "payment slips".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slips were sent" typically functions as a passive construction indicating that slips (often documents or notifications) have been dispatched or transmitted to a recipient. Ludwig AI confirms this usage is correct and usable. Examples in Ludwig show contexts such as sending pink slips for layoffs or reply slips for invitations.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

44%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "slips were sent" is a grammatically sound and usable expression in English, indicating the action of dispatching slips, which are often documents or notifications. Ludwig AI confirms this. Usage is most common in News & Media and Scientific contexts. For clarity, specify the type of slips being sent. Alternatives such as "forms were dispatched" or "documents were issued" can provide a more formal tone, while being more specific will prevent the risk of being ambiguous.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

forms were dispatched

Replaces "slips" with "forms" and "sent" with "dispatched", altering the formality slightly.

letters were dispatched

Replaces "slips" with "letters" to specify a type of communication, and "sent" with "dispatched".

documents were issued

Substitutes "slips" with "documents" and "sent" with "issued", providing a more formal tone.

cards were mailed

Uses "cards" instead of "slips", specifying a particular kind of slip; employs "mailed" instead of "sent".

notifications were forwarded

Uses "notifications" instead of "slips" and "forwarded" in place of "sent", emphasizing the act of passing information on.

leaflets were distributed

Replaces "slips" with "leaflets", specifying the content of the message; replaces "sent" with "distributed".

papers were transmitted

Replaces "slips" with "papers" and "sent" with "transmitted", suggesting a more technical or official context.

information was disseminated

Substitutes "slips" with "information" and "sent" with "disseminated", emphasizing the broader spread of details.

messages were conveyed

Substitutes "slips" with "messages" and "sent" with "conveyed", focusing on the communication aspect.

notes were delivered

Uses "notes" instead of "slips" and "delivered" in place of "sent", implying a direct method of transmission.

FAQs

What does "slips were sent" mean in the context of employment?

In employment contexts, "slips were sent" often refers to "pink slips" being issued to employees, indicating layoffs or termination of employment.

What are some synonyms for "slips were sent" when referring to documents?

When referring to documents, alternatives to "slips were sent" include "forms were dispatched", "documents were issued", or "notifications were forwarded".

How can I clarify the meaning of "slips were sent"?

To avoid ambiguity, specify the type of slips. For instance, you could say "reply slips were sent" or "permission slips were sent" to provide more context.

Is it better to use "slips were sent" or a more specific term?

Using a more specific term is often preferable. Instead of "slips were sent", consider phrases like "payment slips were issued" or "referral slips were provided" for clarity.