there were written

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'there were written' is used in standard, written English.
It is often used to tell that something was written in the past. For example, "In the contract, there were written the details of the agreement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

There were written tests, badges and medals for high achievement.

The New York Times

"We believe there were written procedures," she said.

The New York Times

"The staff was mean to me when I applied, but there were written rules guaranteeing the rights of my child, so there was nothing they could do to prevent me".

The New York Times

During the first part of the 16th century in England, now stimulated by the "new learning" of Erasmus, John Colet, Thomas More, and others, there were written three works that can be regarded as the initiators of modern biography: More's History of Richard III, William Roper's Mirrour of Vertue in Worldly Greatness; or, The life of Syr Thomas More, and George Cavendish's Life of Cardinal Wolsey.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Other survivors of these missions retired to nearby Lampaco (Lampa) in Guangdong, where a trade post would exist for several decades; in 1537, there were written records of the Portuguese having three warehouses at Lampa, Shangchuan Island, and Macau, and were initially allowed there with the excuse of drying their goods in a storm.

Wikipedia

There were written guides for ETT and UC care.

BMC Pediatrics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Online, there is written and visual evidence of those very same inconveniences.

The New Yorker

There is written information about the piece, about sonata form, about Liszt and about Mr. Hough.

The New York Times - Arts

On another tribute, there was written in large green letters: "Why?

The Guardian

So what you see is what you get: everything in there is written by RIM.

Forbes

Based on this, there is written the general equation for a logic neural network, which allows the easy design of any digital controller directly from the truth table.

IFAC Proceedings Volumes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "there were written", ensure clarity about what was written and the context in which it was documented. Provide specific details to enhance understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "there were written" when an active voice construction would be more direct and clear. For instance, instead of "There were rules written by the committee", consider "The committee wrote the rules".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there were written" functions as an existential construction in the passive voice. It indicates that something (in plural form) existed as a written record. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "there were written" is a grammatically correct and frequently used passive construction indicating the past existence of written materials. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its neutral register makes it suitable for diverse contexts, including news, science, and encyclopedias. When using this phrase, ensure clarity about what exactly was written to enhance understanding. Consider alternatives like "they had written" or "it was documented" to vary your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they had written

Focus shifts to the agents of the writing.

it was documented

Emphasizes the act of documentation rather than authorship.

records indicated

Highlights the presence of records showing something.

it has been written

Changes the tense to present perfect, emphasizing ongoing relevance.

they were composed

Replaces "written" with a synonym suggesting careful creation.

documents revealed

Highlights what documents made apparent.

texts contained

Focuses on what the texts include.

the script read

Specific to scripts or formal writings.

accounts detailed

Emphasizes detailed information present in accounts.

sources stated

Attributes the written information to its origin.

FAQs

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

Use "there were written" to indicate that certain items, details, or rules were documented in the past. For example, "There were instructions written on the package" or "There were specific guidelines written for the project".

What's the difference between "there was written" and "there were written"?

"There was written" is used with singular nouns, while "there were written" is used with plural nouns. For example, "There was a note written" versus "There were notes written".

Are "they had written" and "there were written" interchangeable?

While both indicate past writing, "there were written" emphasizes the existence of the written material, while "they had written" focuses on the writers. The best choice depends on the desired emphasis.

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

You can use alternatives like "it was documented", "records indicated", or "documents revealed" depending on the context.