they were circulated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were circulated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the distribution or sharing of information, documents, or materials among a group of people. Example: "The new policy documents were circulated among all employees for review."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

He supervised the reproduction of his most important works as engravings, ensuring that they were circulated as widely as possible in his lifetime.

The Economist

Tells by whom, how, and where the underground papers were gotten up; and where they were printed and how they were circulated.

The New Yorker

The newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung has reported that the rumors date from 2006, when she first met her future husband, and that they were circulated not by the opposition but by members of his own party.

The New York Times

The Labor government adverts, introduced on 19 July after the so-called PNG solution was introduced, were labelled as "propaganda" by the Coalition after they were published in newspapers in Australia before they were circulated abroad.

The Guardian

The Labor government advertisements, introduced on 19 July after the so-called PNG solution was introduced, were labelled as "propaganda" by the Coalition after they were published in newspapers in Australia before they were circulated abroad.

The Guardian

Even before that claim is heard, it is possible that pictures could be leaked depending on how widely they were circulated around the White House, Pentagon and State Department in the initial euphoria that accompanied the raid on Bin Laden's house in Pakistan.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

"Yes, they were circulating their own manuscripts, in part because they didn't have enough access to new books," Ms. Price said in an e-mail.

The New York Times

— Robert Allard, attorney for the family of teen-age sexual assault victim Audrie Pott, who committed suicide after discovering the identities of her assailants and the pictures they were circulating of the attack on her.

The New Yorker

We thought the teaser photos they were circulating indicated some inkling of camp, even if it was still thoroughly abased and tasteless.

Vice

Because most identified Bartonella species have been reported as human infectious agents elsewhere, the finding that they were circulating among rodents in a densely populated urban area is of serious public health concern.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Moreover, the CD49a−DX5+ NK cells of both allotypes were found in both parabionts, indicating that they were circulating NK cells, akin to the CD49a−DX5+ cNK cells in the liver.

eLife

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "they were circulated" when you want to emphasize the passive nature of the action, highlighting that the items or information were spread without necessarily specifying who did the circulating. For example, "The documents they were circulated contained sensitive information."

Common error

Avoid using "they were circulated" when you actually mean to specify who circulated the items. In such cases, use the active voice for clarity, such as "The team circulated the documents" instead of "The documents they were circulated."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were circulated" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that a particular item or piece of information underwent the action of being distributed. Ludwig AI provides examples where this phrase is used to describe the distribution of documents, rumors, and advertisements.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they were circulated" is a grammatically sound passive construction used to describe the action of distributing something among a group. As indicated by Ludwig AI, the phrase appears most frequently in news and media contexts but also finds use in wiki and scientific domains. While several alternative phrases exist, such as "they were distributed" or "they were shared", the choice depends on the specific nuance desired. When using the phrase, ensure that the passive voice is appropriate and that the focus is on the action rather than the actor. While not exceedingly common, "they were circulated" is a valid and useful phrase in various writing contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were distributed

This alternative focuses on the act of spreading or handing out items or information.

they were disseminated

This alternative suggests a wider, more pervasive spreading of information or ideas.

they were spread

This alternative refers to a broader more general distribution.

they were propagated

This alternative implies the spreading of something, often information or beliefs, more actively.

they were shared

This suggests a mutual distribution, commonly between people.

they were publicized

This implies making something known to the public, often through media.

they were broadcast

This suggests a wide and often immediate distribution, similar to radio or television.

they were transmitted

This alternative suggests a sending or conveying, often electronically or formally.

they were diffused

This indicates a spreading out or scattering, often implying a gradual process.

they were issued

This focuses on the act of formally releasing or providing something.

FAQs

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

Use "they were circulated" to indicate that something was distributed or spread among a group. For example, "The memos "they were circulated" contained important updates."

What are some alternatives to "they were circulated"?

You can use alternatives like "they were distributed", "they were shared", or "they were disseminated" depending on the context.

Is it better to use active or passive voice when describing how information was spread?

Using the active voice (e.g., "The committee circulated the report") is clearer when you want to specify who performed the action. The passive voice (""they were circulated"") is suitable when the actor is unknown or unimportant.

What's the difference between "they were circulated" and "they were distributed"?

"They were distributed" generally implies a straightforward sharing or handing out, while ""they were circulated"" suggests a more intentional or organized passing around of something among a group.