they were announced

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were announced" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of making something known or public, typically in a formal context. Example: "The winners of the competition were announced during the award ceremony."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I didn't even realize the morning they were announced that the announcements were that day.

Huffington Post

They were announced by Parfitt, last year.

The Guardian

Few objected to the tax changes when they were announced.

The Economist

They were announced in January as 2011 recipients of the Japan Prize.

University of California, Berkeley

Results of the local elections looked dire for Labour as they were announced on Friday.

The Economist

When they were announced as silver medalists — and, later, bronze medalists — the applause was deafening.

The New York Times - Sports

They were announced without having first been published in a journal.

The Economist

She sniffed and snorted, detecting the arrival of the in-flight chips before they were announced.

The New Yorker

Xan Brooks's liveblog of the ceremony Full list of winners as they were announced.

The Guardian - Film

Neither were mentioned in the speech, as they were announced in 2015.

The Guardian

Reports of layoffs circulated regularly on news wires and in newspapers, often before they were announced.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they were announced" when you want to emphasize the act of making something known to a wider audience, especially after a decision or selection process. For example, "The election results were announced after a thorough auditing process."

Common error

Avoid using active voice when the passive voice is more appropriate. For example, instead of saying "The committee announced the winners", use "The winners they were announced by the committee" to shift focus to the winners.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "they were announced" is a passive construction. It indicates that the subject (they) is receiving the action (being announced). Ludwig AI's examples confirm its use in conveying information about events or decisions made public.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Academia

13%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they were announced" is a common and grammatically correct passive construction used to convey that something has been officially made public. It's primarily found in news and media contexts but also appears in academic and formal settings. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is widely accepted and understood. When writing, ensure you are focusing the attention on what was announced, rather than who did the announcing. Consider alternatives like "they were revealed" or "they were publicized" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were revealed

Emphasizes the act of uncovering or making something visible that was previously hidden.

they were disclosed

Focuses on the act of making information available that was previously confidential.

they were publicized

Highlights the act of giving something a lot of public attention.

they were proclaimed

Implies a formal or official declaration.

they were communicated

Focuses on the act of conveying information to an audience.

they were unveiled

Suggests a ceremonial or celebratory act of revealing something new.

they were broadcast

Implies a wide distribution of information, often through media channels.

they were reported

Highlights the act of conveying information, typically via news sources.

they were presented

Focuses on the act of formally introducing or displaying something.

they were shared

Indicates the act of distributing information among a group.

FAQs

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

You can use "they were announced" to describe the moment something is officially made public. For example, "The new policies "they were announced" at the meeting yesterday".

What's the difference between "they were announced" and "they were revealed"?

"They were announced" implies a formal declaration, while "they were revealed" suggests uncovering something previously hidden. The former is used for planned announcements, the latter for unexpected discoveries.

What can I say instead of "they were announced"?

You can use alternatives like "they were disclosed", "they were publicized", or "they were proclaimed" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "they have been announced" instead of "they were announced"?

Yes, both phrases are grammatically correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "They were announced" refers to a specific point in the past when the announcement occurred, while "they have been announced" indicates that the announcement happened at some point in the past and is still relevant now.