they were denied

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were denied" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to indicate that someone has been refused something. For example, "The couple were denied a loan from the bank due to their poor credit history."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Officially, they were denied.

The Economist

They were denied bail.

The New York Times

But they were denied visas.

The New York Times

They were denied so much.

The Guardian - Sport

For three years, they were denied.

The New York Times - Sports

They were denied bond on Sunday.

The New York Times

They were denied families, home, sunshine, love.

The Guardian

To add insult to injury, they were denied equal pay.

The New York Times

In the spring, as expected, they were denied parole.

The New York Times - Arts

In 1987 they were denied leave to appeal again.

The Guardian

Interviewees said they were denied proper medical care.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "they were denied", ensure the context clearly identifies who "they" refers to and what was denied to them. For example, "The refugees were denied asylum" is clearer than "They were denied."

Common error

Avoid using "they were denied" without a clear antecedent for "they". Ensure your reader understands who is being referred to and what the context of the denial is.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were denied" functions as a passive voice construction. It indicates that a group of people ("they") experienced the action of being refused something. Ludwig examples show this phrase is used in news reports and articles.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they were denied" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to indicate that a group of individuals was refused something. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it serves to report on rejections, restrictions, or negative outcomes. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. Related phrases include "they were refused" and "their request was rejected". When writing, ensure the subject of the phrase is clear and that the context of the denial is evident.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were refused

Direct synonym indicating a formal refusal.

their request was rejected

Focuses on the rejection of a specific request.

they were not allowed

Emphasizes a lack of permission.

they were prohibited from

Highlights a formal ban or restriction.

they were barred from

Indicates exclusion from a place or activity.

access was withheld from them

Focuses on the act of withholding access.

they were excluded from

Highlights the act of being left out.

their application was turned down

Specific to application rejections.

they did not receive

A more general way of saying something was not given.

they were unsuccessful in obtaining

Highlights the lack of success in getting something.

FAQs

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

The phrase "they were denied" is used to indicate that a group of people were refused something. For example, "The protesters "they were denied" a permit to march through the city."

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

You can use alternatives like "they were refused", "their request was rejected", or "they were not allowed" depending on the specific context. For example, instead of ""they were denied" entry", you could say "they were refused entry".

Is it correct to say "they was denied"?

No, the correct phrasing is "they were denied". "Were" is the plural form of the past tense of "to be" and is used with the plural pronoun "they". Using "was" would be grammatically incorrect.

What is the difference between "they were denied" and "they were refused"?

While "they were denied" and "they were refused" are very similar, "denied" often implies a more formal or official refusal, while "refused" can be more general. The difference is often subtle and interchangeable, but "they were refused" often carries a tone of agency while "they were denied" is more on the consequence.