they instructed that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'they instructed that' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that someone has told someone else to do. For example, "They instructed that the package be delivered to the address on file."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Ms. Sebba reports that when Edward and Wallis hired a yacht in the summer of 1936, they instructed that all books be removed from its library.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

They instruct that readings must not express "regional bias," for fear that some students will be disadvantaged by exposure to action in unfamiliar locations like mountains or oceans.

The New York Times - Books

Many chief immigration officers have so little faith in the system that they instruct that the "student" be landed even though they are clearly bogus.

The Guardian

They were instructed that they should do this as though they were describing it to somebody who had not seen the cartoon before.

Aphasiology

Following the devaluation procedure, in which participants were shown that one of their containers was full, they were instructed that they would be given 4 s to collect as many coins as they pleased from a display of gold and silver coins (ten each; Fig.  2C) by clicking with their mouse.

Cognitive, Affective and Behavioral Neuroscience

They were instructed that they were going to watch pictures of objects presented in series of five and that these were followed by a few seconds of blank screen.

Plosone

They were instructed that they could slow down and rest if necessary and then start again, if possible.

BioMed Research International

Patients and staff were informed that patient activity was being monitored; however they were instructed that they should not alter their usual behaviour.

BioMed Research International

They were instructed that they were required to choose between two monetary rewards, differing in their amount and delay, according to their preferences.

European Journal of Neuroscience

To examine the impact of external contingencies on task performance and the neural substrates of intrinsic motivation, we assigned half of the participants to a "reward" condition in which they were instructed that they could receive a monetary bonus based on their final task performance.

Cognitive, Affective and Behavioral Neuroscience

They were instructed that if they missed a dose of the product, they should take the dose as soon as possible thereafter.

Clinical Proteomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "they instructed that", ensure the context clearly indicates who 'they' refers to and that the instruction is explicitly stated.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by ensuring the pronoun "they" has a clear and identifiable antecedent. Otherwise, the instruction may lack clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they instructed that" functions as a reporting clause, introducing a command, direction, or instruction given by a group. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness for conveying instructions. It sets the stage for a specific action or guideline to be followed.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they instructed that" is a grammatically correct phrase used to report instructions given by a group. While Ludwig AI confirms its validity, it's relatively rare, appearing most frequently in news and scientific contexts. When using it, ensure the antecedent of "they" is clear and that the instruction itself is explicitly stated. Alternative phrases, such as "they directed that" or "they ordered that", can offer varying degrees of formality and directness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they directed that

Replaces "instructed" with "directed", implying a slightly more authoritative tone.

they ordered that

Substitutes "instructed" with "ordered", suggesting a stronger command.

they specified that

Replaces "instructed" with "specified", indicating a more precise and detailed instruction.

they stipulated that

Uses "stipulated" instead of "instructed", implying a formal agreement or condition.

they advised that

Replaces "instructed" with "advised", suggesting a recommendation rather than a command.

they mandated that

Substitutes "instructed" with "mandated", conveying a legally binding requirement.

they prescribed that

Uses "prescribed" instead of "instructed", often used in a medical or technical context.

they demanded that

Replaces "instructed" with "demanded", implying a forceful and urgent instruction.

they requested that

Substitutes "instructed" with "requested", softening the command into a polite request.

they told them that

A more direct and less formal way of conveying the instruction.

FAQs

How can I use "they instructed that" in a sentence?

You can use "they instructed that" to report a directive or command given by a group. For example, "The supervisors instructed that all reports be submitted by Friday".

What's a more formal way to say "they instructed that"?

More formal alternatives include "they directed that" or "they stipulated that", depending on the context.

What can I say instead of "they instructed that" in casual conversation?

In more casual contexts, you might say "they told them that" or "they said that".

Is "they instructed that" always followed by the subjunctive mood?

Yes, "they instructed that" is typically followed by a verb in the subjunctive mood. For example, "they instructed that the meeting be postponed", where "be" is the subjunctive form.