they attended

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they attended" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a group of people participated in an event, such as a meeting, conference, or ceremony. Example: "They attended the annual conference to discuss the latest developments in their field."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They attended my wedding.

The New York Times

They attended Greyfriars together.

The Guardian - Books

They attended parties.

The New Yorker

They attended French schools.

The New Yorker

Rabbi Riskin said they attended services occasionally.

The New York Times

In 2009, they attended 10 of them.

The New York Times

They attended interminable round-table discussions.

The Economist

They attended the consultation meetings.

The Guardian - Business

They attended a great party".

The Guardian - Sport

They attended an event featuring President Gerald Ford.

The New Yorker

"They attended church every Sunday," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using synonyms like "they participated in" or "they were present at" to avoid repetition, especially in longer texts.

Common error

Avoid using prepositions after "attended" when referring to events. It's incorrect to say "they attended to the meeting"; instead, say "they attended the meeting".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they attended" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the action of a group of people being present at or participating in an event. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they attended" is a grammatically sound and common way to express that a group of individuals were present at a particular event. According to Ludwig, its usage is widely accepted and applicable across various contexts. Predominantly found in "News & Media" and "Science" sources, the phrase maintains a neutral register, making it suitable for both formal and informal communication. Alternatives like "they were present at" or "they participated in" can be used for variety. It's important to avoid adding unnecessary prepositions after "attended", such as saying "they attended the meeting" instead of the incorrect "they attended to the meeting".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were present at

Replaces "attended" with a more literal description of being at an event.

they participated in

Emphasizes active involvement rather than just presence.

they took part in

Similar to "participated in", stressing involvement.

they were at

A simpler way of saying "they attended", suitable for informal contexts.

they were involved in

Highlights a deeper level of engagement than simply attending.

they sat in on

Specifically refers to attending a meeting or lecture.

they visited

Implies a more casual or informal presence.

they graced with their presence

A more formal and sometimes humorous way of saying they were there.

they graced

A shorter, more elegant way of saying they were present at an event.

they frequented

Suggests they went there often.

FAQs

What does "they attended" mean?

"They attended" means that a group of people were present at a specific event, meeting, or function. It indicates their participation or presence at that particular occasion.

What are some alternatives to "they attended"?

You can use alternatives like "they were present at", "they participated in", or "they took part in" depending on the context and the level of formality you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "they attended to"?

No, it is generally incorrect to say "they attended to" when referring to an event. The correct usage is "they attended" followed directly by the event or activity. For example, "they attended the conference", not "they attended to the conference".

How formal is the phrase "they attended"?

The phrase "they attended" is considered neutral in formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. It is a common and widely understood expression.