students were suspended

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "students were suspended" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing disciplinary actions taken against students for various reasons, such as rule violations or misconduct. Example: "After the incident in the cafeteria, several students were suspended for their behavior."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The four students were suspended.

The New York Times

More than 15 students were suspended.

The New York Times

The five students were suspended and barred from commencement.

The New York Times

They said ethnic relations had improved since the students were suspended.

The New York Times

So when students were suspended, there was no place for them to go.

The New York Times

The statistics also showed that black and Hispanic students were suspended at a disproportionately high rate.

The New York Times

Dozens of students were suspended for several days and had to retake exams.

The New York Times

In two recent cases, students were suspended for posting parodies of their principals.

The New York Times - Style

In one protest, about 60 of the students were suspended, but the action was rescinded within hours.

The New York Times

Citing privacy rules, they would not say whether the students were suspended, expelled or sent to a different school.

The New York Times

Last school year, nearly 3,500 male students were suspended from Hartford schools; only 2,236 girls drew the same punishment.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use active voice instead of passive where appropriate to directly indicate who issued the suspension. For example, "The school suspended the students" is more direct than "Students were suspended".

Common error

Avoid vague statements about why "students were suspended". Always strive to provide specific details about the policy violations or behaviors that led to the suspension, while respecting student privacy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "students were suspended" primarily functions as a statement of fact, reporting a disciplinary action taken by a school or institution. As Ludwig AI highlights, this phrase is a grammatically correct and widely used expression for indicating that students have been temporarily removed from school.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "students were suspended" is a common and grammatically sound way to report disciplinary actions in educational settings. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a statement of fact, typically found in news reports or school communications. The phrase is most frequently used in a neutral register within the "News & Media" context. While reporting suspensions, consider providing specific details regarding the reasons for the disciplinary action to ensure clarity and avoid overgeneralizations. Alternatives like "students faced suspension" or "students received a suspension" can offer different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

students faced suspension

Focuses on the experience of the students undergoing suspension rather than the action itself.

students received a suspension

Emphasizes the act of receiving the suspension as a consequence.

suspensions were issued to students

Shifts focus to the issuance of suspensions, rather than the students themselves.

students were placed on suspension

Highlights the state of being on suspension.

students incurred suspension

Suggests that students brought the suspension upon themselves through their actions.

students were temporarily expelled

Suggests that the suspension is expulsion with a time limit.

students were barred from school

Focuses on the action of exclusion from school.

students were disciplined

A more general term indicating some form of punishment, not specifically suspension.

students were penalized

Similar to 'disciplined' but emphasizes the imposition of a penalty.

disciplinary action was taken against students

A more formal and passive way to describe students receiving consequences.

FAQs

What are the alternatives to saying "students were suspended"?

You can use alternatives like "students faced suspension", "students received a suspension", or "students were placed on suspension" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use active or passive voice when writing about student suspensions?

While "students were suspended" (passive) is grammatically correct, using active voice (e.g., "the school suspended the students") can make your writing more direct and engaging. It also clearly identifies who took the action.

What information should I include when reporting that "students were suspended"?

Provide context about the reason for the suspension, the duration of the suspension, and any relevant school policies that were violated. Avoid disclosing sensitive personal information.

What's the difference between "students were suspended" and "students were expelled"?

"Students were suspended" implies a temporary removal from school, while "students were expelled" indicates a permanent or long-term removal. Expulsion is a more severe disciplinary action.