they were discriminated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were discriminated" is not correct in English.
It should be "they were discriminated against." You can use it when discussing instances of unfair treatment based on characteristics such as race, gender, or age. Example: "They were discriminated against because of their ethnicity, which led to a lack of opportunities in the workplace."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Black patients, the study found, were the most likely to report discrimination by race, while white and Hispanic patients reported that they were discriminated more often based on their age, weight or income.

University of California, Berkeley

Furthermore, some patients felt they were discriminated against by health workers, and were able to quote specific examples of discrimination.

BMC Public Health

Some patients felt they were discriminated against by health workers, and were able to quote specific examples of discrimination, generally at diagnosis.

BMC Public Health

"They were discriminated against," he said.

The New York Times

"We've seen that both genders felt they were discriminated against because of sex," Vrangalova told me.

The New Yorker

Ms. Conway said they were discriminated against for being heavy and clumsy.

The New York Times

They had claimed they were discriminated against in both hiring and promotions.

The New York Times

Did the two young women feel that they were discriminated against?

The New Yorker

Other employees say that they were discriminated against because of disabilities.

The New York Times

For decades they were discriminated against and had to keep quiet about their culture and language.

The Economist

This is, of course, not the first time a Muslim has claimed they were discriminated against by an airline.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the complete phrase "they were discriminated against" to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity. Omitting "against" is a common error that should be avoided.

Common error

Avoid using "they were discriminated" without the preposition "against". This omission is a grammatical error that significantly affects the clarity and correctness of your writing. Remember that discrimination is an action directed against someone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were discriminated", while frequently found in various texts as shown in the Ludwig examples, is grammatically incomplete. Its intended function is to describe an action (discrimination) performed upon a group, but it requires the preposition "against" to be grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

29%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "they were discriminated" appears frequently in various sources, it is grammatically incorrect. The correct and complete form is "they were discriminated against". As Ludwig AI underlines, the omission of "against" constitutes a grammatical error. For accurate and impactful writing, consider using alternatives such as "they faced discrimination" or "they experienced discrimination", which offer grammatically sound and active voice alternatives. Despite its prevalence, always aim for grammatical precision and clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they faced discrimination

Replaces the passive voice with an active construction, emphasizing the action of discrimination.

they experienced discrimination

Similar to 'faced discrimination', but emphasizes the subjective experience of being discriminated against.

they were subjected to discrimination

Emphasizes the imposition of discrimination upon them.

they were victims of discrimination

Highlights the harm caused by the discriminatory actions.

they endured discrimination

Focuses on the prolonged or sustained nature of the discrimination.

they suffered discrimination

Similar to 'endured', emphasizing the negative impact and hardship caused.

they were treated unfairly

A more general term indicating inequitable treatment, but not necessarily specifying discrimination.

they were marginalized

Highlights the social exclusion resulting from discriminatory practices.

they were prejudiced against

Focuses on the underlying prejudice as the cause of the discriminatory actions.

they were targets of prejudice

Highlights that they were the intended recipient of prejudicial treatment.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "they were discriminated"?

No, the correct phrasing is "they were discriminated against". The preposition "against" is essential to complete the meaning and ensure grammatical accuracy.

What's the difference between "they were discriminated against" and "they faced discrimination"?

"They were discriminated against" is in the passive voice, while "they faced discrimination" is in the active voice. The active voice is often more direct and impactful.

Which is correct, "they were discriminated" or "they experienced discrimination"?

The correct phrase is "they were discriminated against". A better alternative is "they experienced discrimination", which is grammatically sound and in the active voice.

How can I use "they were discriminated against" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe instances where a group of people faced unfair treatment due to certain characteristics. For example, "They were discriminated against because of their ethnicity, which led to a lack of opportunities in the workplace."