they were forwarded

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were forwarded" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to something that has been sent or passed along to someone else, typically in the context of emails or messages. Example: "The documents were forwarded to the appropriate department for review."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

After the letter and tape were received, they were forwarded to the Marine Corps' inspector general, Brig.

The New York Times

Once the documents were in Washington, they were forwarded by the C.I.A. to the Pentagon, he said.

The New Yorker

He investigated and found they were forwarded by a program, calling itself Jeem, that had not been seen before.

The New York Times

Members of the network would then steal passports from tourists, mainly in Barcelona, and send them to Thailand where they were forwarded to the terrorist groups, they said.

The New York Times

The author's mother had arrived there in September 1944 after a deadly march from Auschwitz; she worked at searching shoes, sent there from other camps, for valuables and then repairing them before they were forwarded to Germany.

The Guardian - Books

The court's TV screens then displayed a series of increasingly anxious e-mails from Fulop to a contact at the Port Authority; they were forwarded to Christie's aides, who wrote back, "Radio silence," and, "He's getting a little snippy.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Can they be forwarded to New York in time for the regular season?

The New York Times - Sports

Many messages are shared in groups, and when they are forwarded, there is no indication of their origin.

The New York Times - Tech

They are forwarded to the Committee on Graduate Programs (CGP) for consideration through the Faculty Governance system.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

PSM stations then request these packets and they are forwarded from the access point.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

For downstream flows, IP packets are injected in ER and removed in the IR they are forwarded to.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "they were forwarded", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what "they" refers to, preventing ambiguity. For example, instead of "They were forwarded", specify "The emails were forwarded".

Common error

Avoid using "they were forwarded" if the subject is unclear or ambiguous in the preceding context. Always ensure that the reader knows what 'they' refers to. For instance, avoid sentences like "The information was received, and they were forwarded." Instead, clarify: "The information was received, and the documents were forwarded."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were forwarded" primarily functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that a group of items or information underwent the action of being sent onward. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness and usability of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they were forwarded" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase, as validated by Ludwig AI, indicating that items or information have been passed along to another destination. Its usage spans across various contexts, with a prevalence in news and media, science, and academic writing. While the phrase is generally neutral in register, it's important to ensure clarity in its usage by explicitly defining "they" to avoid ambiguity. For alternative phrasing, options such as "they were transmitted" or "they were passed along" can be considered based on the specific context and desired tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were transmitted

This alternative uses a more technical term, "transmitted", suggesting a formal or scientific context.

they were passed along

This option offers a more informal and conversational way of saying something was sent on.

they were routed

Using "routed" implies a specific path or system through which items were sent.

they were directed

"Directed" suggests a deliberate action of guiding items to a specific destination.

they were relayed

This term emphasizes the act of passing information or items from one point to another.

they were conveyed

This alternative brings a more formal tone to the act of sending or transporting.

they were dispatched

"Dispatched" suggests a prompt and efficient sending of items.

they were shipped

"Shipped" refers more specifically to the transportation of physical goods.

they were submitted

This implies a formal process of presenting something for consideration.

they were channeled

"Channeled" suggests a controlled direction of items or information through a specific path.

FAQs

What does "they were forwarded" mean?

The phrase "they were forwarded" means that a group of items or pieces of information were sent on to another person or place after being initially received somewhere else. It implies a process of redirection or passing along.

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

You can use alternatives like "they were transmitted", "they were passed along", or "they were relayed" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "they are forwarded" instead of "they were forwarded"?

The phrase "they are forwarded" implies a habitual or ongoing action in the present, while "they were forwarded" refers to a completed action in the past. The correct choice depends on the intended meaning. For instance, "All emails are forwarded to the archive" vs. "The emails were forwarded yesterday".

What is the difference between "they were forwarded" and "they were sent"?

While both phrases indicate that something was sent, "they were forwarded" implies a secondary sending after an initial reception, suggesting an additional step in the process. "They were sent" simply means they were dispatched to a destination.