they were exerted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were exerted" is not correct in standard written English.
It is likely intended to convey that something was exerted, but the subject "they" does not fit with the verb "exerted" in this context. Example: "The forces were exerted on the structure during the earthquake."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Encyclopedia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The dominant historical influences roughly coincide with those that have affected German mainstream literature, though, as expected, they were exerted more slowly.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But the wizard had lost his magic; his spells were powerless because they were exerted on people who did not respect them, and he who had so signally disregarded Kant's command to use people as ends in themselves had too small a stock of loyalty to draw on.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The impress of his political views was increasingly evident in his fiction and it seemed to some of his admirers that they were exerting too strong an influence.

The Guardian - Books

Bobby Bandavich's men offered stout resistance and the question remained: could the Blues translate the pressure they were exerting into goals?

The New Yorker

And behind the scenes they were exerting pressure on the Greek prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, to repress these proposals, insinuating that there would be no agreement unless we stuck to the troika's failed programme.

The Guardian

The toxic effects revealed in in vitro tests are sufficient to attract attention considering that they are exerted on both plants and aquatic animals and that the number of old PVPs in disposal sites will be very high.

Environmental Pollution

"They're exerting all the pressure they can".

The New York Times

Researchers have found that people routinely believe they are exerting less force than they really are.

The New York Times - Health

None of them is new, but together they are exerting strong pressure for change.

The Economist

The pressure they are exerting on Spurs and Chelsea for Champions League qualification is growing by the week.

The Guardian - Sport

Should consumers boycott palm oil altogether or should they be exerting pressure on companies to clean up their supply chain?

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the application of influence or force, clarify the agent that is doing the exerting to improve clarity and grammatical correctness. For example, instead of saying "they were exerted", specify who or what was exerting the force. Ensure you are using the active voice when possible for directness.

Common error

Avoid using the passive voice unnecessarily with "exert". Often, the sentence can be strengthened by making the subject explicit and using the active voice. For instance, instead of "pressure was exerted", use "the company exerted pressure".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were exerted" functions as a passive construction, where the action of exerting is performed upon "they". However, as Ludwig AI states, this construction is not grammatically correct in standard English, often requiring a more explicit subject or a different phrasing.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Encyclopedias

50%

Wiki

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they were exerted" is considered grammatically incorrect by Ludwig AI in standard written English, despite a few occurrences in sources like encyclopedias and wikis. Its intended meaning usually revolves around expressing that influence, force, or pressure was applied. For clearer and more effective communication, it's recommended to specify the agent doing the exerting and consider alternative phrasings, such as "pressure was applied" or "they were enforced". Given its grammatical issues and limited usage, avoiding this phrase in formal writing is advisable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pressure was applied

Emphasizes the application of pressure, differing in the specificity of the action.

control was applied

Control being actively put into effect rather than the more passive exertion.

force was used

Highlights the use of force in a general sense.

they were brought to bear

More formal way of saying that something was applied to have an effect.

influence was wielded

Focuses on the act of having and using influence, rather than something being directly applied.

power was exercised

Centers on the active demonstration of power, instead of application of something.

they were put into practice

Emphasizes the practical execution of something.

they were implemented

Focuses on implementing a plan or system.

they were enforced

Highlights on enforcing rules or laws.

they were inflicted

Highlights that something unpleasant was caused.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "they were exerted" to improve clarity?

To improve clarity, specify who or what did the exerting. Consider options like "the forces "were applied"" or "the team "wielded influence"".

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

According to Ludwig AI, the phrase "they were exerted" is not correct in standard written English. It is better to use more explicit constructions.

What is the difference between "they were exerted" and "they were applied"?

While both phrases involve the application of something, "they were exerted" is grammatically awkward. Using "they "were applied"" is generally clearer and more acceptable.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "they were exerted"?

Given that the phrase is grammatically questionable and uncommon, according to Ludwig AI, it's advisable to avoid using "they were exerted" in formal writing. Instead, opt for clearer and more direct alternatives.