they were attended

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were attended" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to individuals receiving attention or care, often in contexts like healthcare or events. Example: "During the conference, they were attended by several experts who provided valuable insights."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

They were attended by a string of fräuleins, German maids, cooks, and family attendants, along with a "houseman" named Louis, "a Tyrolese from Meran".

The New Yorker

They were attended by senior civilian and military officials from Beijing and Washington, Obama administration officials said.

The New York Times

They were attended to by a swarm of volunteers (some 1,100 in all, who work on a rotating basis).

The New York Times - Travel

Charles Powell, Margaret Thatcher's foreign policy adviser, says that she hated summits, mainly because they were attended by foreigners.

The Guardian

They were attended by representatives from all the major agencies dealing with the incident, including police, council highways, fire and rescue and health workers.

Independent

They were attended by the entire community at first and, later, as the community grew, were conducted before committees presided over by Noyes.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

They were attending their weekly meeting.

The New Yorker

Or it may be because they were attending school more.

The New York Times

They were attending a religious-leaders' climate-change conference.

The New Yorker

Fifteen people said they were attending, and 60 said maybe.

The New York Times - Magazine

They were attending a dinner at the hotel.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they were attended" when you want to emphasize the act of receiving care or service, particularly in formal or professional contexts.

Common error

Avoid rewriting sentences using active voice when the passive construction is more appropriate for emphasizing the recipient of the action. Changing "they were attended by doctors" to "doctors attended them" shifts the focus from the patients to the doctors.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were attended" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject received attention or service. As Ludwig AI explains and confirms with examples, it's a grammatically sound way to describe someone receiving care.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they were attended" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase, predominantly in formal settings such as news reporting, scientific writing, and professional communications. As Ludwig AI confirms with its analysis and examples, the phrase emphasizes that a group received care or service, rather than who provided that care. While alternatives exist, the passive voice construction is often preferred when the provider of care is unknown or less relevant than the fact of the care itself. Understanding the context and register helps to use the phrase effectively and avoid common errors such as inappropriate active voice conversions. Consider synonyms when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they received attention

Focuses on the act of receiving attention, rather than being attended to.

they were cared for

Emphasizes the aspect of care and well-being.

they were looked after

Similar to "cared for", but with a slightly more informal tone.

they were seen to

Highlights the act of being given service or assistance.

they were ministered to

Suggests a more formal or compassionate type of care.

they were waited on

Implies a serving or catering aspect of attention.

they were given assistance

Focuses on the provision of help or support.

they were provided for

Highlights the supply of necessities or support.

attention was given to them

Rephrases the sentence to emphasize attention.

they benefited from care

Focuses on the positive outcome of receiving attention.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "they were attended" to sound more active?

You can use active voice constructions like "someone attended to them" or "staff cared for them". However, the passive voice is often preferable when the actor is unknown or less important than the recipient of the action.

Is "they were attended to" different from "they were attended"?

While both are grammatically correct, "they were attended to" emphasizes that attention was given to a specific need or issue. "They were attended" is a more general statement about receiving care or service.

What's a more formal alternative to "they were attended"?

More formal alternatives include "they received attention", "they were ministered to", or, depending on the specific context, "they were provided for".

Can I use "they were attended" when referring to objects, not just people?

While less common, it's possible if the objects are being cared for or maintained. For example, "the historical artifacts were carefully attended to by the museum staff". However, in most cases, phrases like "they were taken care of" are more appropriate.