they were contacted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were contacted" is correct and can be used in written English.
Example sentence: The police were contacted after the suspicious activity was noticed.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They were contacted on landline phones.

The Washington Post

They were contacted by Freedom Charity in October.

The Guardian

It did not indicate when they were contacted, however.

The New York Times - Tech

"Where there was tapping they were contacted by police," Yates said.

The Guardian

Two said they were contacted by lawyers with a Burlington firm.

The Washington Post

The doctors called the police after they were contacted by finance companies seeking payments on the loans.

The New York Times

The police said they were contacted by Freedom Charity in October, suggesting they were rescued a few weeks ago.

The Guardian

Hadad said they did not know Malsin was a journalist until they were contacted by the press about his detention.

The Guardian

Mr. Rucker said some of the advertisers "didn't even know that they were actually enabling Beck" when they were contacted.

The New York Times

Especially as this particular research was based on over-50s, and how often they were contacted in person.

The Guardian - Opinion

When they were contacted in February, none of his family members were aware that Mr. Callahan had entered the contest.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider whether an active voice construction (e.g., "someone contacted them") might be more direct and engaging, depending on the intended tone and emphasis.

Common error

Avoid using "they were contacted" without specifying who did the contacting. This can leave the reader wondering who initiated the communication, which can be confusing. Always provide context or identify the contact initiator for better clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were contacted" functions as a passive construction, indicating that a group received communication. Ludwig examples show its use in describing how individuals or groups were reached by authorities, organizations, or researchers.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

56%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they were contacted" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction to denote that a group of individuals has been reached out to. According to Ludwig, this phrase is correct and suitable for use in written English. Analysis of various sources reveals it is particularly common in news and media, as well as scientific publications. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying who initiated the contact, thereby avoiding ambiguity. While generally neutral in register, consider whether an active voice construction might be more appropriate for certain contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were reached out to

A more informal phrasing that maintains the passive voice, similar to the original phrase.

communication was established with them

This alternative emphasizes the act of establishing communication, altering the focus from who initiated it to the fact it occurred.

contact was made with them

Similar meaning, but emphasizes the making of contact, shifting the focus slightly.

they received communication

This focuses on the reception of communication rather than the act of contacting.

someone got in touch with them

An informal alternative emphasizing the act of initiating contact.

they heard from someone

Indicates they received a message or news from an unspecified source.

they were approached

Implies a more direct or formal manner of contacting someone.

they were informed

Implies the delivery of information to them, rather than just any type of contact.

messages were sent to them

Focuses on the sending of messages, highlighting the action taken by the sender.

correspondence was initiated with them

A formal alternative that emphasizes the start of an ongoing exchange.

FAQs

How to use "they were contacted" in a sentence?

Use "they were contacted" to indicate that a group of people received communication from someone. For example, "they were contacted by the police after the incident".

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

You can use alternatives like "they were reached out to", "they received communication", or "contact was made with them" depending on the context.

Is it better to use active or passive voice when describing how people were reached?

Whether to use active or passive voice depends on the focus. Active voice (e.g., "The agency contacted them") emphasizes the actor, while passive voice (e.g., "they were contacted") emphasizes the recipients of the action or when the actor is unknown or unimportant.

When should I use "they were contacted" instead of "they contacted"?

Use "they were contacted" when you want to emphasize that they received the communication, or when the initiator of the contact is unknown or less important. Use "they contacted" when you want to emphasize that they initiated the communication.