that were sent to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that were sent to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to items, messages, or information that have been dispatched to a specific recipient or location. Example: "The documents that were sent to the client were received on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

You should have received two emails that were sent to the list today.

University of California, Berkeley

Cargo companies refused to release campaign materials that were sent to the Russian regions.

The New York Times

He read unsolicited essays that were sent to the White House.

The New York Times

"There's a strong emphasis on messages that were sent to and from the towers," Davies says.

Independent

He commanded military expeditions and supervised the Frankish counts, abbots, and vassals that were sent to Aquitaine.

Britannica

PETA also provided The Washington Post with copies of the videos that were sent to and viewed by Mashable.

The Washington Post

Military jets that were sent to help spotted the plane's door open and the cockpit dark and empty in flight.

The New York Times

The tallies were then to be manually recorded on forms that were sent to the commission's headquarters in Baghdad.

The New York Times

French officials assisted Greece in drafting the proposals that were sent to eurozone finance ministers last week.

The Guardian

The board met Tuesday to discuss letters that were sent to the university by the mother of the woman.

The New York Times

(By the way, Ms. Bacall owes her career to some photographs by Dahl-Wolfe that were sent to Hollywood).

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "that were sent to", ensure the subject receiving the action is clearly identified to avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of "the packages that were sent to", specify "the packages that were sent to the customers".

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on passive constructions like "that were sent to". Active voice often results in clearer and more concise writing. Consider rephrasing as "the company sent the documents" instead of "the documents that were sent to the company".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that were sent to" functions as a relative clause, modifying a noun and providing additional information about items or entities that underwent the action of being dispatched or transmitted. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "that were sent to" functions as a relative clause that modifies a noun and provides details regarding the items that were dispatched to a recipient. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is grammatically sound and highly versatile. It is commonly employed across diverse contexts, especially in news, scientific, and academic writing. Although "that were sent to" is accurate, it is important to choose the active voice when possible for a more concise tone. Consider variations such as "that were delivered to" depending on the precise meaning you want to convey. Overall, this phrase is frequently used in formal and informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that were dispatched to

Replaces "sent" with "dispatched", implying a more formal or official sending process.

that were forwarded to

Specifies that the items were sent on from an intermediate point.

that were transmitted to

Suggests a technological or electronic method of sending.

that were directed to

Emphasizes the intended recipient or destination.

that were conveyed to

Implies a more formal or deliberate transfer.

that were routed to

Highlights the path or process of sending.

that were consigned to

Suggests a formal handing over or delivery.

that were remitted to

Often used in the context of sending money or payments.

that were shipped to

Specifically refers to sending goods via a shipping service.

that were transferred to

Indicates a change of ownership or location.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "that were sent to" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives such as "that were dispatched to", "that were conveyed to", or "that were remitted to", depending on the context.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "that were sent to"?

While "that were sent to" is grammatically correct, using the active voice often creates a more direct and concise sentence. For example, instead of "the reports that were sent to the manager", you could say "the team sent the reports to the manager".

What's the difference between "that were sent to" and "that were delivered to"?

While both phrases indicate transmission, "that were delivered to" often implies a final stage of transport or a more formal handing over, whereas "that were sent to" simply indicates the act of dispatching something.

What are some common words used with the phrase "that were sent to"?

Common words used with "that were sent to" include "messages", "letters", "documents", "packages", "reports", and "samples", reflecting various types of items being dispatched to a specific destination or recipient.