they were ended

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were ended" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly as "ended" is not commonly used in the passive voice in this context. Example: "The project was ended due to budget constraints."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Facebook says in the document that 38 of the 52 have now been discontinued — though it does not specify exactly when they were ended — adding that an additional seven will be shut down by the end of July, and another one will be closed by the end of October.

TechCrunch

People who began by questioning who they were ended up questioning other things, like their politics.

The New Yorker

Bebe has been training at Carrington for the past few days but if Ferguson remained in any doubt about his new signing's qualities, they were ended with his succinct summary of himself.

Independent

The Potters' chances of a comeback still looked remote, however, and they were ended completely when Aguero made it 3-0 from the spot.

BBC

They were ended by the Arab Muslim invasions, which devastated the Sassanid and Byzantine East Roman empires shortly after the end of the last war between them.

Wikipedia

In Holenstein, the roads (such as they were) ended and a trail took us, through ankle-deep snow, up a steep meadow, and then into the woods, along the edge of a deep ravine.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Meanwhile, GateHouse media and the Chicago Sun-Times both announced they were ending their contracts with Journatic.

The Guardian - Opinion

In Arsenal's mitigation, they were ending a demanding week by facing a determined opponent playing a high-energy game.

Independent

They were: "End to the torment!" "Not what yall say!" "Better off this way!" "My ELF weapon".

Los Angeles Times

If they are ended, the government will take in nearly $4 trillion more over the next decade than if they remain.

The New York Times

Trials are completely "blinded" until they are ended.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to the termination of projects or initiatives, consider using stronger verbs in the active voice to clarify who or what caused the ending, such as "they terminated the project" or "the company ended the partnership".

Common error

Avoid using the passive voice construction "they were ended" when a more direct and active voice construction would provide greater clarity and impact. Opt for phrases like "they terminated" or "they concluded" to specify the agent of the action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were ended" functions as a passive construction, indicating that something has been brought to a conclusion by an unspecified agent. Ludwig identifies this usage as not being correct in standard written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they were ended" is a passive construction used to indicate that something has concluded. However, as Ludwig points out, it's not the most grammatically correct or commonly used way to express this idea. With a "Rare" frequency and primarily appearing in News & Media contexts, it is advised to use stronger verbs in the active voice, like "they terminated" or "they concluded", to provide greater clarity. Overall, choosing more direct alternatives will enhance the precision and impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were terminated

Uses a more formal synonym for "ended", implying a deliberate action to bring something to a close.

they were discontinued

Suggests that something was stopped or no longer being produced or offered.

they were completed

Emphasizes the successful finishing of something.

they were concluded

Implies a formal or official ending.

they were stopped

A more direct and simple way of saying something came to a halt.

they were abolished

Indicates that something was formally put to an end, often referring to laws or systems.

they were canceled

Suggests that something was called off or revoked.

they were phased out

Implies a gradual ending or removal of something.

they came to an end

Rephrases the idea of ending in a more descriptive and natural way.

they were brought to a close

A more elaborate way of saying something was ended, often implying careful management of the ending.

FAQs

Is "they were ended" grammatically correct?

While technically understandable, "they were ended" is not the most common or grammatically sound way to express the idea of something being finished. It's better to use more direct and active alternatives.

What are some alternatives to "they were ended"?

You can use alternatives like "they were terminated", "they were completed", or "they came to an end" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use the passive voice instead of the active voice?

The passive voice is useful when the actor is unknown or unimportant, but in most cases, using the active voice provides more clarity and conciseness.

How can I make my writing sound more professional and clear?

Opt for active voice constructions whenever possible, and choose specific verbs that accurately reflect the action being described. Avoid ambiguous or awkward phrasing like "they were ended".