there were shown

USAGE SUMMARY

"there were shown" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to introduce that something was displayed or revealed. For example: "There were shown many styles of the new clothing line."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

During dark days in 2008, 1,000 workers there were shown the exit.

The New York Times

When a pattern of sexual abuse began to emerge on the Upper East Side, officers there were shown sketches of the attacker every morning during training sessions.

The New York Times

Many of the stars not there were shown on the video board in right-center field — Rickey Henderson and Chuck Knoblauch, Sparky Lyle and Orlando Hernández.

The New York Times - Sports

There were shown to be substantial cultural differences from mainstream northern European culture in terms of identity and belonging.

Conflict and Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

There is shown to be a clear dependence of these values on the strain amplitude.

Engineering Failure Analysis

In the paper there are shown some of the validation results based on these experiments.

Archives of Civil and Mechanical Engineering

But there's showing them a good time -- and then there's just spoiling them rotten.

Huffington Post

Meanwhile, there were shows to see in the usual way.

The New Yorker

There were shows to watch in Rome.

Huffington Post

He assembled great bands and there were shows too, takeoffs on Broadway hits.

Los Angeles Times

"Well, there are shows, and there are shows," he said.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "there were shown" to introduce information or items being displayed or revealed, especially when the action is passive and the emphasis is on what is being presented, not who is presenting it.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on passive constructions like "there were shown". In many cases, active voice can make your writing more direct and engaging. Consider restructuring the sentence to emphasize the actor if appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "there were shown" is to act as a passive voice construction, indicating that something was displayed or revealed. Ludwig AI indicates it is acceptable in written English. It introduces information without explicitly stating who performed the action.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "there were shown" is a grammatically correct phrase, typically employed to introduce information or items displayed or revealed. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is suitable for written English. While not overly common, it is most frequently found in news and scientific contexts. Consider using alternative phrases such as "they were presented" or "they were displayed" for variety. While the passive voice is acceptable, active voice constructions may offer a more direct and engaging writing style, depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were presented

Replaces 'shown' with 'presented', emphasizing a formal introduction or display.

it was demonstrated

Shifts the focus to the act of demonstrating or proving something.

they were displayed

Focuses on the visual aspect of making something visible.

it could be seen that

Replaces the passive voice with an active observation.

evidence indicated

Highlights the role of evidence in revealing something.

it was apparent that

Emphasizes the obviousness or clarity of what was revealed.

they were unveiled

Suggests a grand reveal or introduction.

the data revealed

Implies that information or data made something clear.

illustrations depicted

Highlights visual representations making something visible.

figures indicated

Similar to 'data revealed', but more specific to numerical figures.

FAQs

How can I use "there were shown" in a sentence?

You can use "there were shown" to introduce something that was displayed or revealed. For example, "There were shown many examples of the new product".

What can I say instead of "there were shown"?

You can use alternatives like "they were presented", "they were displayed", or "it was demonstrated" depending on the context.

Is "there were shown" formal or informal?

"There were shown" is generally considered neutral to formal in tone. While grammatically correct, it's often found in written contexts like news or academic reports rather than casual conversation.

What is the difference between "there were shown" and "they showed"?

"There were shown" is passive, emphasizing what was displayed, while "they showed" is active, emphasizing who did the displaying. The choice depends on whether the subject or the action is more important.