they indicated that

USAGE SUMMARY

"they indicated that" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is often used to introduce a reported statement or indication from a group of people. For example: "They indicated that they would be arriving late to the meeting." "The witnesses indicated that the suspect was wearing a red hoodie." "After the vote, they indicated that they were in favor of the new policy." "During the interview, the candidates indicated that they have experience in marketing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They indicated that the testimony would mirror that at the first trial.

The New York Times

laboratory, but they indicated that H1N1 swine flu was at least partly responsible for the outbreak.

The New York Times - Health

At their November meeting, they indicated that no rate cut was in the offing soon.

The New York Times

"They indicated that they couldn't do anything because it wasn't in their jurisdiction," a witness testified.

The New York Times

Additionally, they indicated that the pegylation degree affected the in vivo performance of the nanocapsules.

Journal of Controlled Release

They indicated that they would update the court on that process on June 28.

The Washington Post

They indicated that they were consumed with their own obligations and felt the census was irrelevant.

The New York Times

They indicated that most of those issues were fixed once inspectors pointed them out.

The Washington Post

Last week they indicated that they will not put up with silence, either.

The New York Times

But on Wednesday they indicated that they are willing to show some flexibility.

The New Yorker

They indicated that the α-Fe2O3nanoparticles had been removed completely.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they indicated that" to introduce a summary or paraphrase of what a group has communicated, rather than directly quoting them. This helps maintain a consistent writing style and avoids excessive quotation marks.

Common error

Avoid repeating "they indicated that" multiple times within a short paragraph. Instead, vary your sentence structure by using synonyms like "they stated", "they reported", or "according to them" to improve readability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they indicated that" serves as a reporting clause, introducing indirect speech. It signifies that a group communicated information without necessarily stating it directly. Ludwig AI confirms this usage aligns with established grammatical patterns.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

46%

News & Media

44%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they indicated that" is a common and grammatically sound construction used to introduce information conveyed by a group, as validated by Ludwig AI. Its versatility spans various contexts, including science, news media, and academia, offering a balanced approach between formality and accessibility. While widely employed, varying sentence structure with synonyms such as "they stated" or "they reported" can enhance writing quality. The Ludwig examples underscore its function as a reporting clause, attributing information to a collective while allowing for indirect conveyance. With a high source quality and expert rating, this phrase remains a reliable choice for clear and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they stated that

Replaces "indicated" with a more direct synonym, implying a formal declaration.

they confirmed that

Substitutes "indicated" with "confirmed", implying verification of something previously uncertain.

they affirmed that

Replaces "indicated" with "affirmed", suggesting a strong confirmation or declaration.

they reported that

Replaces "indicated" with "reported", often used when relaying information from an official source.

they pointed out that

Replaces "indicated" with "pointed out", suggesting an emphasis on a particular fact or detail.

they suggested that

Substitutes "indicated" with "suggested", implying a less assertive or more tentative communication.

they revealed that

Substitutes "indicated" with "revealed", implying the disclosure of previously unknown information.

they mentioned that

Substitutes "indicated" with "mentioned", implying a brief or casual communication.

their statement indicated

Restructures the sentence to emphasize the statement itself as the source of indication.

it was indicated by them that

Uses a passive voice construction to shift the focus away from "they".

FAQs

What does "they indicated that" mean?

The phrase "they indicated that" means that a group of people signaled, suggested, or stated something, often without explicitly saying it. It introduces information that has been communicated by a collective.

What can I say instead of "they indicated that"?

You can use alternatives like "they stated that", "they reported that", or "they suggested that" depending on the context. These phrases offer similar meanings but may vary in formality or emphasis.

Is "they indicated that" formal or informal?

The phrase "they indicated that" is generally considered neutral to formal. It is suitable for use in news reports, academic papers, and professional communications. More informal settings may benefit from simpler phrasing.

How to use "they indicated that" in a sentence?

You can use "they indicated that" to introduce a piece of information provided by a group of individuals. For example: "Following the meeting, "they indicated that" they would release a public statement soon."