the documents were sent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the documents were sent" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that documents have been dispatched or delivered to a recipient. Example: "I wanted to confirm that the documents were sent yesterday and should arrive by tomorrow."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

The documents were sent anonymously to Public Citizen, the Washington-based consumer group, which made them public.

The New York Times

James Kelly Nestruck, bearing the same first initial and surname as Sea Eagles CEO Joe Kelly, claims the documents were sent to him in error by a British legal professional.

The Guardian - Sport

Susanne Craig, the reporter to whom the documents were sent, told CNN on Sunday morning the Trump camp had "threatened to sue the paper, saying tax returns are confidential, and we made a decision last night to go forward".

The Guardian

Many of the documents were sent to Budapest where Carl Lutz, the Swiss vice-consul, provided sanctuary to thousands of Jews at an abandoned glass factory known as his "Glass House".

The Guardian

One document says: "Based on the information from the National Central Bureau of the UK [part of Soca], the above stated individual [Cherkasov] is residing at his home address [details enclosed]." The documents were sent from staff at Russia's interior ministry to an individual named as among those who, it is claimed, prevented Magnitsky's lawyers from seeing their client shortly before his death.

The Guardian

The documents were sent to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board last week.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Finally, the documents are sent to Rome and reviewed by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

Los Angeles Times

In cases of BI-RADS 4 or 5 or of dissent findings (BI-RADS 1/2 vs 3 vs 4/5), the documents are sent to a highly specialised breast reference centre.

British Journal of Cancer

Practitioners not responding to the first posting of these documents were sent a second and final copy of each after eight weeks, via normal post.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

The document was sent to J Edgar Hoover, director of the FBI.

The Guardian - Music

The document was sent last week to senators who have been pushing for far more stringent measures.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To add a more human or active voice to your writing, consider rephrasing passive sentences with active constructions. For example, instead of 'the documents were sent,' use 'we sent the documents' or 'they sent the documents'.

Common error

While grammatically correct, relying heavily on passive voice constructions like "the documents were sent" can make your writing sound distant or less engaging. Actively seek opportunities to use the active voice to improve clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the documents were sent" functions as a passive voice construction. It describes an action (sending documents) where the recipient or the documents themselves are the subject, rather than the actor. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness and usability of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the documents were sent" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe the dispatch of documents, with the focus being on the documents themselves rather than the sender. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and commonly used. It is suitable for neutral registers, particularly in News & Media and Science contexts. To make writing more engaging, consider using the active voice where appropriate. While not incorrect, overuse of passive voice can create a distant tone. Related phrases, such as "the papers were dispatched", offer alternative ways to express the same idea with subtle changes in formality or emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the papers were dispatched

Replaces "documents" with "papers" and "sent" with "dispatched", altering the formality slightly.

the files were transmitted

Substitutes "documents" with "files" and "sent" with "transmitted", suggesting a digital context.

the records were forwarded

Changes "documents" to "records" and "sent" to "forwarded", implying a more formal or official transfer.

the materials were conveyed

Replaces "documents" with "materials" and "sent" with "conveyed", adding a layer of formality.

the data was submitted

Switches "documents" to "data" and "sent" to "submitted", fitting a context where data is being provided.

the brief was communicated

Changes "documents" to "brief" and "sent" to "communicated", suggesting a summary document was shared.

the portfolio was directed

Substitutes "documents" with "portfolio" and "sent" with "directed", fitting a professional or artistic context.

the certificates were provided

Changes "documents" to "certificates" and "sent" to "provided", which fits when offering verification documents.

the entries were registered

Substitutes "documents" with "entries" and "sent" with "registered", which fits when offering database entries.

the forms were lodged

Changes "documents" to "forms" and "sent" to "lodged", fitting an official filing context.

FAQs

What does "the documents were sent" mean?

The phrase "the documents were sent" indicates that certain papers or files have been dispatched to a recipient, whether physically or electronically.

What can I say instead of "the documents were sent"?

You can use alternatives like "the papers were dispatched", "the files were transmitted", or "the records were forwarded" depending on the context.

Is it better to use active or passive voice when describing how documents were transferred?

While both active and passive voice are grammatically correct, active voice (e.g., "We sent the documents") often makes your writing more direct and engaging compared to passive voice ("the documents were sent").

How do I specify who sent the documents when using the phrase "the documents were sent"?

To specify the sender, you can add a 'by' phrase: "The documents were sent by the legal team." However, consider using the active voice for greater clarity: "The legal team sent the documents."