they were elected

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were elected" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to individuals or groups who have been chosen for a position or role through a voting process. Example: "After a long campaign, they were elected to serve on the city council."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Most elected officials are focused on their own election and doing the jobs they were elected to do.

The Washington Post

"They were elected, nobody believes that there was a corrupt election, anything else," McCain said.

Huffington Post

The mid-term election was more important than the jobs they were elected to do.

Huffington Post

"They must allow the elected representatives of the people in parliament to do the job that they were elected for.

BBC

"They were elected.

The New York Times

They were elected by the education group.

Yale University

They were elected in their first year of eligibility.

The New York Times

They were elected, or appointed by someone who was.

The New York Times

They were elected, but no one else was.

The New York Times

They were elected more than four years ago but have never been officially installed.

The New York Times

This even though they were elected to protect us from this fatal attack on our liberties.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they were elected" when you want to emphasize the process of being chosen through a vote, rather than simply being appointed or selected.

Common error

Avoid using active voice when passive voice is more appropriate. For example, instead of "The people elected them", use "They were elected" to focus on the elected individuals.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were elected" functions as a passive clause, indicating that a group or individuals have undergone the process of being chosen through an election. As Ludwig AI suggests, this phrase is grammatically sound and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

16%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Science

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they were elected" is a grammatically correct and frequently used passive clause that signifies the result of an electoral process. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and common usage across diverse contexts. Predominantly found in news and media, it serves the purpose of conveying factual information about election outcomes. When writing, it's important to choose active or passive voice depending on the desired emphasis and sentence focus. For related concepts, alternatives such as "they won the election" or "they were chosen by ballot" can be considered to provide subtle differences or to fit the specific tone and style of the text.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the voters elected them

States directly that voters performed the act of electing.

they won the election

Focuses on winning an electoral contest.

the electorate chose them

Highlights the role of the voters (the electorate) in the selection.

they got voted in

Uses a more colloquial term, 'voted in', implying a direct voting process.

they were returned to office

Specifically refers to incumbents who have been re-elected.

they were chosen by ballot

Emphasizes the use of a ballot in the selection process.

they triumphed at the polls

A more figurative way of saying they won an election.

they were selected

A general term for being picked, without specifying the method.

they were appointed

Indicates selection by a higher authority, rather than direct election.

they were designated

Suggests a more formal or official assignment to a role.

FAQs

How to use "they were elected" in a sentence?

Use "they were elected" to indicate that a group or individuals have been chosen for a position through an electoral process. For example, "After a vigorous campaign, "they were elected" to the city council".

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

You can use alternatives like "they won the election", "they were chosen by ballot", or "they got voted in" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "they have been elected" instead of "they were elected"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but they convey slightly different meanings. "They were elected" refers to a completed action in the past, while "they have been elected" implies that the election's effects continue into the present.

What's the difference between "they were elected" and "they were appointed"?

"They were elected" indicates selection through a voting process, whereas "they were appointed" suggests selection by a person or body with the authority to do so, without a vote.