that were proposed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that were proposed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to suggestions, ideas, or plans that have been put forward in a discussion or document. Example: "The changes to the policy that were proposed during the meeting will be reviewed next week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"In New York City there have been proposals to ban polystyrene food packaging that were proposed when Mayor Michael Bloomberg was in office".

The Guardian

They also had the benefit of CBO's assessment of both the core proposal and scores for the major amendments that were proposed.

HuffPost

"This was the cheapest of the potential remedies that were proposed," Mr. Cohen said.

The New York Times

Two other parts of the rule that were proposed by the competition committee were eliminated.

The New York Times - Sports

The reforms that were proposed obviously should have been implemented long ago.

The New York Times

Deeper reforms that were proposed threatened the fundamental powers of the Communist Party and its officials.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Make mandatory the federal guidelines for marketing food to children that were proposed in 2011.

The New York Times

He added that he was unaware of any organized opposition to the changes that were proposed last year.

The New York Times

[Page A1.] Reforms at Arthur Andersen that were proposed by Paul A. Volcker, the former Federal Reserve chairman, have begun.

The New York Times

But the hallmark of that particular architecture is that the dimensions that were proposed at the time are grotesquely immense.

The New York Times - Magazine

That's lower than the top rates that were proposed in the original bills passed in the Senate and the House.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "that were proposed", ensure the context clearly indicates who proposed the ideas. Adding a specific attribution enhances clarity and credibility.

Common error

Avoid using present or future tenses when referring to proposals already made. For example, instead of "the ideas that are proposed", use "the ideas that were proposed" to maintain accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that were proposed" functions as a relative clause, modifying a noun (e.g., "reforms", "ideas") by providing additional information about it. It indicates that the noun is associated with actions of proposing.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "that were proposed" functions as a relative clause, commonly used in news, scientific, and academic contexts. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and refers to ideas or suggestions put forward in the past. While versatile, it's crucial to ensure clarity by specifying who proposed the ideas and maintaining consistent tense usage. Alternative phrases like "that were suggested" offer similar meanings with slight tonal variations. Mastering these nuances enhances the precision and impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

which were proposed

Replaces "that" with "which", useful when referring to non-restrictive clauses.

that were suggested

Replaces "proposed" with a more common synonym, reducing the formality slightly.

that were put forward

Uses a phrasal verb instead of a single verb, changing the tone to be slightly more active.

that had been suggested

Emphasizes the past action of suggesting, adding a layer of time.

that were recommended

Implies a degree of endorsement or approval, shifting the focus slightly.

that were offered

Suggests the ideas were presented for consideration, without necessarily being fully developed.

that were advanced

Conveys a sense of moving ideas forward, implying progress and development.

that were submitted

Highlights the act of formally presenting ideas, often in a written format.

that had been advanced

Emphasizes the past action of advancing an idea.

that were introduced

Indicates the initial presentation of ideas, focusing on the starting point.

FAQs

How can I use "that were proposed" in a sentence?

Use "that were proposed" to refer to suggestions, ideas, or plans that have been put forward. For example, "The reforms "that were proposed" obviously should have been implemented long ago."

What are some alternatives to "that were proposed"?

You can use alternatives like "that were suggested", "that were put forward", or "that were recommended" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "that was proposed" instead of "that were proposed"?

No, "that was proposed" is used for singular subjects, while "that were proposed" is used for plural subjects. For example, "the amendment that was proposed" vs. "the amendments that were proposed".

What's the difference between "that were proposed" and "that are proposed"?

"That are proposed" refers to suggestions being made in the present, while "that were proposed" refers to suggestions made in the past. Choose the tense based on the timing of the proposals.