that they wrote

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that they wrote" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to refer to something previously mentioned that was authored by a group of people. Example: "I enjoyed the book that they wrote last year." Alternative expressions include "which they authored" and "that they composed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And it's mostly in Green's studio – "On this very couch!" – that they wrote it.

The Guardian - Music

In this case, the concept was so clear that [the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, which runs the National Center for Atmospheric Research] had a foundation for a script that they wrote.

The New York Times

After that, they wrote a numerical solution, followed by explanations of the diagram (see Tables 4a and 5c, d).

International Journal of STEM Education

Think about that," they wrote.

Vice

We commend you for that," they wrote.

Huffington Post

It helps that they wrote good letters.

The New York Times - Books

Mr. Nash has often said that they wrote the song in 15 minutes.

The New York Times - Arts

Instruct them to use the answers that they wrote to the given questions for ideas.

The New York Times

It was there that they wrote most of the Battleship Potemkin score.

The Guardian - Music

"We are just writing pages in the book that they wrote," said Paul Stanley, the vocalist and guitarist with Kiss.

The New York Times

And, suddenly, part of that whole new sense of truth was that they wrote their own material".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "that they wrote" to clearly attribute authorship to a specific group, especially when discussing collaborative works or shared responsibility for creating content.

Common error

Avoid using "that they wrote" when the authorship is uncertain or when referring to content that was merely edited or compiled by the group. Use clearer attribution if the group's role was not actual writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that they wrote" functions as a relative clause, modifying a noun or noun phrase by providing more information about it. It specifies which particular item or content is being referred to, indicating authorship by a group. As confirmed by Ludwig, this is a correct usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "that they wrote" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that functions as a relative clause to specify authorship by a group. Ludwig confirms its correct usage across a variety of contexts, from news and media to scientific publications. While versatile, it's important to use it accurately, ensuring the group in question did indeed write the content. Alternatives like "which they authored" or "that they composed" can be used to add variety to your writing, depending on the desired tone and level of formality. Remember to clarify authorship when it is uncertain or when the group in question didn't directly write the text.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the one they wrote

Adds emphasis by specifying 'the one'.

which they authored

Replaces "wrote" with a more formal synonym, "authored".

the piece they wrote

Specifies that it's a piece, a written work.

that they composed

Substitutes "wrote" with "composed", implying a more structured or artistic creation.

that they penned

Replaces "wrote" with "penned", suggesting a more literary or old-fashioned style.

that they produced

Highlights the output or result of their writing efforts.

what they created

Uses "created" instead of "wrote", broadening the scope beyond just written works.

that they developed

Focuses on the process of development and refinement in their writing.

which they drafted

Emphasizes the process of creating a preliminary version of something.

that they formulated

Suggests a more intellectual or planned creation.

FAQs

How can I use "that they wrote" in a sentence?

You can use "that they wrote" to refer to a specific piece of writing created by a group of people, for example, "The play "that they wrote" was a huge success".

What are some alternatives to "that they wrote"?

Alternatives include "which they authored", "that they composed", or "what they created", depending on the context and the level of formality you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "the book that they wrote" or "the book which they wrote"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "that" is generally preferred in restrictive clauses (clauses that are essential to the meaning of the sentence), while "which" is often used in non-restrictive clauses (clauses that add extra information but are not essential). In most cases, "the book that they wrote" is the more natural choice.

What's the difference between "that they wrote" and "what they wrote"?

"That they wrote" refers to a specific item or piece of writing that has already been identified or is understood in context. "What they wrote" is more general and refers to the content or substance of their writing. For example, "I enjoyed the article "that they wrote"", versus "I disagree with "what they wrote"".