they were decided

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were decided" is not correct in standard English usage.
It may be intended to convey that a decision has been made, but the construction is awkward and unclear. Example: "After much discussion, they were decided on the best course of action."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

They were decided in Chiquita's favor, but the Europeans delayed amending the import rules.

The New York Times

Speaking about the rules, he said they were decided by the chief medical officer and the Government had no input.

Independent

CM: They were decided by directors of music who would have better judgement because they were true composers themselves.

The Guardian - Film

"Both produced dramatic political backlashes," wrote Professor Klarman, "even though opinion polls showed that half the country supported those rulings when they were decided".

The New York Times

They "were decided and planned in Syria, prepared and organised in Belgium and perpetrated on our soil, with French complicity", he said.

The Guardian

Some felt those semi-finals were cheapened by the manner in which they were decided, but both were immense matches regardless - probably the best pair of semi-finals in any World Cup, which counterbalances the appalling final.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

While they were deciding, someone else's offer was accepted.

The New York Times

"They were deciding whether we get to America or not".

The New York Times

"They were building this momentum and they were deciding the momentum of the game.

The New York Times - Sports

I realized that they were deciding whether to trust me with their lives.

The New Yorker

"When they were deciding who it should go to, Comaneci had a very good PR.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, prefer active voice constructions like "the committee decided" over the potentially ambiguous "they were decided".

Common error

Avoid using "they were decided" when you can clearly state who made the decision. This improves sentence clarity and precision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were decided" functions as a passive voice construction, where the subject receives the action of deciding. Ludwig indicates that it's not considered standard English usage, suggesting potential for misinterpretation or awkwardness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

8%

Reference

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they were decided" is a passive construction that indicates a decision has been made about a particular subject. However, according to Ludwig, this phrase is not considered standard English usage and can be grammatically awkward. While it appears across various sources, including News & Media, Wiki, and Science, clearer and more direct alternatives are generally preferred. These alternatives include specifying who made the decision or using phrases like "decisions were made" or "it was decided". Using clearer constructions enhances readability and avoids ambiguity. When in doubt, opt for active voice constructions to ensure your writing is precise and easily understood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

decisions were made

Emphasizes the act of making decisions, replacing the passive construction with a more direct one.

it was decided

Shifts the focus to the decision itself, using a common impersonal construction.

they determined

Replaces "decided" with a synonym that implies a more formal or thorough process.

they resolved

Suggests a firm decision made after some deliberation.

a decision was reached

Highlights the outcome of a process rather than the actors involved.

they came to a decision

Emphasizes the process of arriving at a decision.

the outcome was

Focuses on the result of the decision-making process.

the conclusion was

Highlights the final judgment or resolution.

it has been settled

Implies a final and binding decision.

they opted

Uses a simpler verb to indicate a choice was made.

FAQs

Is "they were decided" grammatically correct?

While the phrase might appear in some contexts, it's generally considered grammatically awkward. It's often better to use clearer alternatives like "a decision was made" or explicitly state who made the decision.

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

You can use alternatives like "decisions were made", "it was decided", or specify who made the decision directly (e.g., "the committee decided").

Why is "they were decided" considered awkward?

The passive construction can be unclear. It doesn't explicitly state who performed the action of deciding, which can make the sentence less informative and more confusing.

When is it acceptable to use "they were decided"?

It's rarely the best choice. However, if the actor is truly unknown or irrelevant, and the passive voice is necessary for emphasis, it might be acceptable. But clearer alternatives are usually preferable.