they were contributed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were contributed" is not correct in standard English usage.
It is typically used incorrectly as "contributed" is a transitive verb that requires a direct object. Example: "The resources they contributed were invaluable to the project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Among the six regions, alleles for earliness at Flo-Ps1.1, Flo-Ps2.2 and Flo-Ps3.1 were contributed by Baccara, while they were contributed by 90 2131 at Flo-Ps6.3 and PI180693 or 552 at Flo-Ps1.2 and Flo-Ps7.2.

BMC Plant Biology

On the contrary, in 1990 2004, the contributions of neoplasm (only females), endocrine, and nutritional and metabolic diseases were negative, whereas they were contributed positively between 1976 and 1990 94.

Global Health Action

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

They were contributing to noise pollution in parks and forests.

The New York Times

They were contributing directly to the disaster that followed the fall of Saddam.

The New Yorker

But the downturn is still hard to pin on them, if only because they were contributing so little already.

The Economist

What the press didn't know was that every time they used the images, they were contributing to a defence group fund.

The Guardian

Just over half, 53%, said they had access to a workplace pension but only 38% said they were contributing to one.

The Guardian - Money

We needed to tell residents how many hours work a week they were contributing towards, and on what days they could expect to see us at work.

The Guardian

Participants would be awarded with a certificate, a lapel pin, and the warm glow of knowing they were contributing to scientific progress.

The Guardian

Mr Duncan Smith said the UK should require migrants to demonstrate they were "committed to the country" and they were "contributing".

BBC

It mattered that they were contributing to a historic headcount.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that the subject performing the action of contributing is clearly identified to avoid ambiguity. Clarity is key when describing who is contributing what.

Common error

Avoid using the passive construction "they were contributed" as it's often grammatically incorrect. Instead, opt for active voice constructions like "they contributed" for better clarity and grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were contributed" functions as a passive construction where the typical subject (the entity contributing) is not the main focus. Ludwig AI points out that this phrase is often misused as "contribute" is a transitive verb requiring a direct object.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "they were contributed" appears in some sources, including scientific and news articles, Ludwig flags it as grammatically questionable. The more direct and grammatically sound alternative is the active voice construction, "they contributed". When clarity and correctness are paramount, especially in formal writing, it's advisable to use the active voice or rephrase to emphasize the contribution itself. While its purpose may be to shift focus onto the contribution rather than the contributor, doing so generally comes across as awkward.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they contributed

Omits the passive voice, directly stating the subject's action.

they made contributions

Replaces the verb with a noun phrase, emphasizing the act of contributing.

their contribution was

Shifts focus to the contribution itself, rather than the act of contributing.

they provided

Uses a more general verb to indicate giving or supplying something.

they supplied

Similar to "they provided", but often implies a more formal or structured delivery.

they allocated

Suggests a specific distribution or assignment of resources or effort.

they assigned

Similar to "they allocated", but may imply a more formal or authoritative assignment.

they furnished

Implies providing something necessary or useful, often in a more formal context.

they imparted

Suggests sharing knowledge, wisdom, or a quality.

they devoted

Emphasizes the dedication of time, effort, or resources to a specific purpose.

FAQs

What's wrong with using "they were contributed"?

The phrase "they were contributed" is generally incorrect because "contribute" is a transitive verb that requires a direct object. The active form, "they contributed", is more grammatically sound.

How can I correctly use the word "contribute" in a sentence?

Use the active voice: "They contributed resources to the project." Or use a noun phrase: "Their contribution was significant."

What are some alternatives to saying "they were contributed"?

Consider using phrases like "they contributed", "they provided", or "they supplied" depending on the context.

Is "they were contributed" ever correct?

While rarely appropriate, you might use a passive construction with "contributed" if the focus is on what was received rather than who gave it, but even then, rephrasing is usually better. For example, instead of "the funds they were contributed", you can say, “"the funds they contributed"”.