they were agreed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were agreed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a group of people has come to a consensus or shared understanding on a particular matter. Example: "After much discussion, they were agreed on the best course of action to take moving forward."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

They were agreed on one thing.

The Guardian - Business

They were agreed collectively and continue to be the policies of the government.

The Guardian

They were agreed they had a deal they could live with.

The Guardian

It is not certain what more can be done by way of sanctions, nor how firmly these could be implemented, even if they were agreed.

The Economist

But hours later, the secretary said monitors, whose presence Israel opposes, could be used only if they were agreed to by both parties.

The New York Times

He could offer no real clarity on the contentious timing of the injections or the process by which they were agreed, beyond saying the decision was taken by a specialist and agreed by the UCI and Wada.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

Her head bobs on the long stem of her neck, as if they were agreeing on a fascinating point.

The New Yorker

So, put simple, people clicked 'agree' without knowing exactly what they were agreeing to.

TechCrunch

"I wanted to have a mastectomy and they were agreeing that I should have one.

BBC

Or to put it more plainly, Facebookers had no idea what they were agreeing to let the company do.

TechCrunch

"If they think they were agreeing to commit a crime, then they crossed the line".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they were agreed" to indicate a collective decision or understanding reached after discussion or negotiation. It's particularly useful when referring to formal agreements or decisions made by a group.

Common error

Avoid using "they were agreed" when you intend to express active agreement. For example, instead of saying "they were agreed by the proposal", consider "they agreed to the proposal" for a more direct and active construction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were agreed" functions as a passive construction, indicating that a consensus or agreement was reached by a group. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they were agreed" is a grammatically correct passive construction used to express that a group has reached a consensus. According to Ludwig AI, it is suitable for various writing contexts, although active voice alternatives like "they agreed" are often more direct. The phrase appears frequently in news, scientific, and formal business domains. While "they were agreed" is acceptable, it's essential to consider the context and choose the most appropriate phrasing for clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they reached an agreement

Rephrases the idea of agreement as an action achieved.

they came to a consensus

Emphasizes the collective decision-making process.

they were in accord

Uses a more formal term to denote agreement.

they were unanimous

Highlights the complete agreement among all parties.

they were of one mind

Emphasizes the shared perspective and understanding.

they concurred

A more concise and formal way of expressing agreement.

they settled on

Focuses on the final decision or choice made.

they saw eye to eye

An idiomatic expression for agreeing completely.

they were aligned

Indicates that their opinions or objectives were in agreement.

they were of the same opinion

States directly that their opinions matched.

FAQs

How can I use "they were agreed" in a sentence?

Use "they were agreed" to indicate that a group has come to a consensus on something. For example, "After the meeting, "they were agreed" on the next steps".

What are some alternatives to "they were agreed"?

You can use alternatives like "they reached an agreement", "they came to a consensus", or "they were in accord" depending on the context.

Is "they were agreed" grammatically correct?

Yes, "they were agreed" is grammatically correct. It's a passive construction indicating that an agreement was reached among a group.

What is the difference between "they were agreed" and "they agreed"?

"They agreed" is an active construction, meaning the group actively made the agreement. "They were agreed" is passive, emphasizing the state of agreement rather than the act of agreeing. Using "they agreed" is usually more direct and preferred.