they were accessed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were accessed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of retrieving or obtaining information or data from a source, such as a database or a file. Example: "The documents were stored securely, but they were accessed by unauthorized personnel."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Apple hasn't been specific about how the photos were obtained, but reports -- and a tweet from Kirsten Dunst, one of the affected celebrities -- suggest they were accessed through iCloud, Apple's remote storage service that backs up music, documents and photos and syncs them to devices.

Huffington Post

Key Informants provided expert knowledge about the relationship between the parties; they were accessed over the course of the project, and were more reflective than other respondents [ 27].

Globalization and Health

They were accessed drawing on the team's professional contacts at five universities (one in Australia, one in Canada and three in the UK).

BMC Nursing

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

They are accessed by people in over 120 countries (most academic books are only available in Western university libraries), with large numbers coming from the developing world.

The Guardian

Moreover, services are reusable, and have high autonomy because they are accessed through well defined interfaces.

Data Science and Engineering

By contrast, works of net art are instantiated whenever they are accessed by someone on-line.

SEP

Once the files have been downloaded they are accessed through Ovi while offline.

Forbes

Values marked with the lazy keyword are not evaluated until they are accessed for the first time.

Journal of Cheminformatics

The split-up occurs along borderlines of data belonging together and how frequently and in which mode they are accessed.

Journal of Cheminformatics

Never store passwords on your computer in case they are accessed by Gameover Zeus or another aggressive malware program.

BBC

Virtual Private Network (VPN): A Virtual Private Network provides secure access to instances on Amazon AWS Cloud especially for scenarios where they are accessed through mechanisms that not based on HTTP.

Journal of Cloud Computing: Advances, Systems and Applications

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer active voice where possible for more direct and concise writing; however, passive voice can be useful when the actor is unknown or irrelevant.

Common error

Avoid using "they were accessed" when the actor is known and relevant. Active voice often results in clearer, more impactful writing. For example, instead of "The files were accessed by the hacker", write "The hacker accessed the files".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were accessed" functions as a passive construction, indicating that something was acted upon. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct. The phrase is used to describe the action of gaining entry to or retrieving something, without necessarily specifying who or what performed the action.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they were accessed" is a grammatically sound passive construction used to indicate that something was retrieved or entered. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It is most commonly found in scientific and news-related contexts. When using this phrase, be mindful of whether the passive voice is the most effective choice, and ensure the subject is clearly defined. Consider active voice alternatives if the actor is known and relevant. Despite its less common usage, "they were accessed" is a valuable tool for conveying information when the actor is unknown or the focus is on the object of the action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were obtained

Replaces "accessed" with a synonym, focusing on the act of getting something.

they were retrieved

Similar to "obtained", but implies a more formal or systematic retrieval process.

they were reached

Suggests a connection was made to them, enabling access.

they were tapped into

Implies gaining access to a resource or source of information.

they were utilized

Focuses on the use of something after access is gained.

they were exposed

Suggests they were made visible or available to others.

they were made available

Highlights the act of making something accessible.

access was gained to them

Rephrases the sentence to emphasize the gaining of access.

they came into reach

Indicates that something became accessible or attainable.

they were unlocked

Implies that a barrier to access was removed.

FAQs

What does "they were accessed" mean?

The phrase "they were accessed" means that something (referred to as "they") was retrieved, used, or entered, often without specifying who or what did the accessing. It's a passive construction.

How can I rephrase "they were accessed" in active voice?

To use the active voice, identify who or what did the accessing and make them the subject of the sentence. For example, instead of "they were accessed by the system", you could say "the system accessed "them"".

When is it appropriate to use the passive voice "they were accessed"?

The passive voice is appropriate when the actor is unknown, unimportant, or when you want to emphasize the object being acted upon. For instance, "The documents were accessed" is useful if you don't know or don't want to specify who accessed them.

What are some alternatives to "they were accessed"?

Alternatives include "they were obtained", "they were retrieved", or "access was gained to "them"". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.