they were disclosed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were disclosed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to information or details that have been revealed or made known to others. Example: "The findings of the investigation were disclosed to the public during a press conference."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Before their publication in California newspapers, they were disclosed by the Reuters news agency.

The New York Times

Those wagers alarmed investors when they were disclosed, prompting a crisis of confidence that led to the firm's demise.

The New York Times

In this case, they were disclosed to The New York Times by a financial adviser whom Ernst & Young briefed on the techniques.

The New York Times

To be sure, when Kaine was governor, state laws permitted politicians to receive gifts as long they were disclosed, which these gifts were.

The New Yorker

The McKesson Corporation's board knew of accounting irregularities at HBO & Company eight months before they were disclosed, according to new contentions in a shareholders' lawsuit.

The New York Times

The bonuses were tied to the company's share price, which fell markedly after they were paid but before they were disclosed.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

The two people, who have close ties to the campaign, did not want to be identified because they were disclosing confidential conversations.

The New York Times

In the tactical interests of the inquiry, they were disclosing nothing further, according to a statement issued by the attorney general of Switzerland.

The New York Times

It demanded that Yahoo! and AOL unmask the posters' identities, because they were disclosing confidential information about a new labor contract, company projections and possible suppliers.

Forbes

At the time of recruitment, all patients were informed that by participating in group sessions, they were disclosing their HIV positive status to the other members attending the session.

BMC Health Services Research

They are disclosed in regulatory filings.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they were disclosed" when you want to emphasize that the information or items in question were revealed by someone or something, rather than discovered independently.

Common error

Avoid using active voice when the focus should be on the information revealed rather than the discloser. For instance, instead of saying "Someone disclosed them", use "they were disclosed" to highlight the information itself.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were disclosed" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that a set of items or information was revealed or made known. As Ludwig AI confirms, this construction is grammatically correct and usable in English. The emphasis is on the items being revealed rather than the actor.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Science

29%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they were disclosed" is a grammatically sound passive construction used to indicate that something has been revealed or made public. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely accepted and suitable for various contexts, including news, science, and formal business settings. While alternatives like "they were revealed" or "they became public" exist, the original phrase effectively emphasizes the fact of disclosure. When writing, ensure the passive voice is appropriate, focusing on the revealed information rather than the discloser. The phrase is commonly found in reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, further validating its proper usage and authority.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were revealed

Replaces "disclosed" with "revealed", maintaining a similar meaning of making something known.

they were divulged

Replaces "disclosed" with "divulged", implying a more secretive or confidential revelation.

they were made known

Replaces "disclosed" with a more descriptive phrase, emphasizing the act of making something known.

they were unveiled

Substitutes "disclosed" with "unveiled", suggesting a more ceremonial or formal revelation.

they were uncovered

Replaces "disclosed" with "uncovered", emphasizing the act of finding something that was previously hidden.

they became public

Rephrases the passive voice into an active construction, focusing on the state of being public.

they were exposed

Substitutes "disclosed" with "exposed", suggesting the revelation was possibly involuntary or unwelcome.

they were brought to light

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey the idea of something being revealed or discovered.

the information was released

Focuses on the information itself and its release, rather than the act of disclosing.

their disclosure occurred

Transforms the phrase into a noun-focused structure, emphasizing the event of disclosure.

FAQs

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

You can use "they were disclosed" to indicate that certain details or information became known. For example, "The financial records were disclosed during the audit".

What are some alternatives to "they were disclosed"?

You can use alternatives like "they were revealed", "they became public", or "they were made known" depending on the specific context.

What is the difference between "they were disclosed" and "they disclosed"?

"They were disclosed" is passive, meaning the focus is on what was revealed. "They disclosed" is active, indicating that "they" revealed something. For example, "They disclosed the documents" versus "The documents were disclosed".

Is it always necessary to specify who disclosed the information when using "they were disclosed"?

No, it is not always necessary. The passive voice allows you to omit the actor if it's unknown, unimportant, or implied. For example, "The results were disclosed", without mentioning who disclosed them.