they learned that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they learned that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to introduce information or knowledge that someone has acquired or discovered. Example: "After conducting the experiment, they learned that the new formula was more effective than the previous one."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The lesson they learned that night was to share".

Huffington Post

Later, officials said, they learned that McDonald had held Winkler and the two other men hostage.

Los Angeles Times

That way, they'll walk away knowing what they learned that day.

WikiHow

I wonder where they learned that.

The New York Times

They learned that.

The New York Times

They learned that it was not.

The New York Times

They learned that Lahore was to be part of Pakistan.

The New Yorker

They learned that her injury was a fractured lower back.

The New York Times

There, they learned that research defined the university enterprise.

The New Yorker

They learned that it was more like getting a haircut.

The New York Times

Ten days later they learned that one was viable.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they learned that" to introduce a fact or piece of information that a group of people have come to know. Be sure to provide context so the reader understands how and why this knowledge was acquired.

Common error

Be careful not to confuse "learn" with "teach". "They learned that" indicates the subjects received information, whereas "they taught that" indicates they imparted information to someone else.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they learned that" functions as a reporting clause, introducing a statement of fact that has been discovered or understood by a group of people. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and frequent usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Wiki

12%

Science

19%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they learned that" is a grammatically sound and widely used expression for reporting information or knowledge acquired by a group. As Ludwig AI states, this phrase correctly introduces facts and discoveries across various contexts, mainly within news, wiki and science publications. While suitable for neutral and general use, one should ensure not to confuse "learn" with "teach", or interchange the expression with others with similar grammatical structure. Using related phrases like "they found out that" or "they discovered that" can help refine meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they found out that

Emphasizes the act of discovering information.

they discovered that

Highlights the uncovering of something previously unknown.

they realized that

Focuses on the moment of understanding or comprehension.

they understood that

Highlights the comprehension of some information.

they came to know that

Implies a gradual process of learning.

they ascertained that

Suggests a more formal and thorough investigation.

it was revealed to them that

Emphasizes the revealing of information to them.

they were informed that

Focuses on the act of being told something.

they gathered that

Implies inferring information from various sources.

they perceived that

Highlights a personal understanding or interpretation.

FAQs

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

Use "they learned that" to introduce a piece of information or a fact that a group of individuals has come to understand or discover. For instance, "After the experiment, "they learned that" the hypothesis was incorrect".

What are some alternatives to "they learned that"?

Alternatives include phrases like "they found out that", "they discovered that", or "they realized that", each carrying slightly different nuances.

Is it correct to say "they learnt that" instead of "they learned that"?

Both "learned" and "learnt" are past tense forms of "learn". "Learned" is more common in American English, while "learnt" is more common in British English. Both are grammatically correct, so the choice depends on your audience and writing style.

What's the difference between "they learned that" and "they knew that"?

"They learned that" implies an acquisition of new knowledge, while "they knew that" indicates pre-existing knowledge. The former suggests a process of gaining information, whereas the latter indicates a state of awareness.