they were decommissioned

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were decommissioned" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the process of officially taking something out of service, such as equipment, ships, or military units. Example: "After years of service, the old naval vessels were finally decommissioned and retired from active duty."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

In their prime, the chimneys spewed smoke from 1,500 tons of burned trash each day, until they were decommissioned in the mid-1980's.

The New York Times

Naval Station Pascagoula, which lost two warships and 748 crew late last year when they were decommissioned, is a possible target for the latest round of cuts.

Forbes

After almost 37 years of use they were decommissioned in May 1991 as outdated and uneconomical to operate.

Wikipedia

They were decommissioned in 1916 to free up the majority of their crews for service in the submarine and air forces.

Wikipedia

Six of Jaime Is 12-inch guns were also salvaged and similarly employed after she was broken up in the 1940s they too remained in service until they were decommissioned in the mid-1990s.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Perhaps, when they are decommissioned, they could slip into the roles of Perkins, Jones, Collins, Reader et al. And possibly John Cleese as Basil?

The Guardian

The navy's other two T-class submarines, HMS Torbay and HMS Trenchant, are to remain in Devonport until they are decommissioned in 2017 and 2019 respectively.

The Guardian

And when it comes to infrastructure, a recent study has found that no new fossil-fuel-using power plants can be built after next year (unless they are decommissioned prematurely making them a bad investment).

The Guardian

They do, however, have particular requirements with regard to the materials that they are made from, how they can be operated, and how they are decommissioned at their end of life.

International Journal of Energy and Environmental Engineering

Richard Scott, a naval consultant at IHS Jane's, the security and defence analysts, said the Type 26 was "hugely important" to the future of the Navy because the Type 23 frigates, which will have served for more than three decades by the time they are decommissioned, need replacing.

BBC

Items like the light bars are recycled from previous vehicles, as they are decommissioned from the fleet and sold.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they were decommissioned" when referring to the formal removal of equipment, vessels, or facilities from service, especially in military, governmental, or industrial contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "they were decommissioned" in casual conversation or informal writing. Simpler alternatives like "they were retired" or "they were taken out of service" are more appropriate in less formal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were decommissioned" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject (they) underwent the action of being formally taken out of service. As confirmed by Ludwig, this construction is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they were decommissioned" is a grammatically correct and commonly used passive construction, according to Ludwig AI. It signifies the formal removal of items, usually equipment or facilities, from active service. While appropriate in news, scientific, and technical contexts, simpler alternatives may be more suitable for informal settings. Understanding the nuances of formality and context will ensure accurate and effective communication when using this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were retired

Uses "retired" instead of "decommissioned", suggesting a gentler removal from service, often used for people or equipment.

they were taken out of service

Replaces "decommissioned" with a more general phrase indicating the cessation of operation or use.

they were shut down

Focuses on the cessation of operation, suitable for machinery or systems.

they were terminated

Indicates a more abrupt and final end to something's service or existence.

they were phased out

Suggests a gradual removal from use, often replaced by something newer or better.

they were discontinued

Focuses on the cessation of production or provision, common for products or services.

they were dismantled

Highlights the physical disassembly and removal of components, often after the end of service.

they were dissolved

Implies the ending of an organization or entity, no longer functioning as a whole.

they were eliminated

Suggests a complete removal, often due to undesirability or obsolescence.

they were abrogated

Implies that the something was canceled or repealed, usually related to laws or agreements.

FAQs

What does "they were decommissioned" mean?

The phrase "they were decommissioned" means that something has been officially taken out of service or use, typically referring to military equipment, ships, or facilities.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "they were decommissioned"?

It's appropriate to use "they were decommissioned" in formal contexts, such as news reports, official documents, or technical writing, when describing the formal removal of items from service.

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

You can use alternatives like "they were retired", "they were taken out of service", or "they were shut down", depending on the specific context and the level of formality required.

Is "they were decommissioned" the same as "they were dismantled"?

While both phrases refer to the end of something's use, "they were decommissioned" implies a formal removal from service, whereas "they were dismantled" suggests the physical disassembly of something, often after it has been decommissioned.