they were categorized

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were categorized" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the classification or grouping of items, people, or concepts based on certain criteria. Example: "The animals were categorized into different species based on their physical characteristics."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

For categorical variables, they were categorized according to tertile distributions.

BMC Nephrology

They were categorized into three types "object", "event" and "place".

Landscape and Urban Planning

If participants reported PA of <150 min per week, they were categorized as 'non-exercisers'.

Nature

Just how many gang members and associates were taken into custody, and how they were categorized, remains uncertain.

The New York Times

He said companies rarely explained to people how they were categorized.

The New York Times

Once the CTC fluorescence intensities were normalized, they were categorized as PD-L1 negative (normalized intensity between 0 0.05) or PD-L1 positive.

Nature

In experiment 1, jugular blood was collected from 31 mares, and they were categorized by age, body condition score (BCS), and average plasma leptin concentrations.

Journal of Equine Veterinary Science

They were categorized in two groups; group 1 included 12 patients with sepsis and group 2 included 12 patients without sepsis.

Egyptian Journal of Medical Human Genetics

They were categorized into various functional groups, including catalytic activity, binding protein, structural molecule, enzyme regulator, molecular transducer, electron carrier, and transport activity/transcription regulation.

Gene

They were categorized as type V, except that of A-An, which identified to type III.

Applied Water Science

If a participant's PHQ-9 score was 10 or more, they were categorized as having depression.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "they were categorized", ensure the criteria for categorization are clear to the reader to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

While grammatically correct, overusing passive voice constructions like "they were categorized" can make writing sound less direct. Consider using the active voice where appropriate for a more engaging style.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were categorized" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject (they) underwent the action of being categorized. Ludwig confirms its usability in English writing.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

83%

News & Media

15%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they were categorized" is a common and grammatically correct passive construction used to describe the act of classifying items or individuals based on specific criteria. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's usable in written English. While versatile, it's primarily found in scientific and news contexts. When writing, ensure the categorization criteria are clear. Alternatives such as "they were classified" or "they were grouped" offer similar meanings, but consider using the active voice for a more direct writing style.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were classified

Replaces "categorized" with the synonym "classified".

they were grouped

Replaces "categorized" with the more general term "grouped".

they were divided

Focuses on the act of splitting into categories rather than naming the categories.

they were sorted

Suggests arrangement based on a system, not necessarily a named category.

they were labeled

Emphasizes the assignment of labels to different items.

they were designated

Indicates a more formal or official assignment to categories.

the categorization was performed on them

Changes the sentence structure to emphasize the action of categorization.

a categorization was applied to them

Highlights that categorization is being imposed on the subject.

they fell into categories

Shifts the focus to the items ending up in pre-existing categories.

categories were assigned to them

Emphasizes the categories as the subject of the action.

FAQs

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

You can use "they were categorized" to describe how items or individuals are grouped based on certain criteria. For example, "The books "they were categorized" by genre."

What's a good alternative to "they were categorized"?

Alternatives include "they were classified", "they were grouped", or "they were sorted" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use active or passive voice when describing categorization?

While "they were categorized" is grammatically correct, using the active voice can sometimes make your writing more direct. For instance, instead of "they were categorized by age", you could write "we categorized them by age".

What does it mean when something is "categorized"?

To categorize something means to assign it to a particular class or group based on shared characteristics. When something is said that "they were categorized" it means they were assigned into a predeterminated group.