they were held

USAGE SUMMARY

"they were held" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to express that something was detained, confined, arrested, or taken into custody. Example: The activists were held for their involvement in the political protest.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They were held for months without charges.

The New York Times

They were held four months.

The New York Times

They were held for two years.

The New Yorker

They were held perfectly still, suspended.

Independent

They were held there for three years.

The New York Times - Arts

"They were held by policemen.

The Guardian

They were held to be void.

Cornell University

They were held overnight and released.

The New York Times

They were held in separate rooms.

The Guardian - Books

They were held bad, on demurrer, by the district court.

Cornell University

They talk about how they were held back.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the specific nuance you want to convey. "Detained", "confined", and "imprisoned" each have slightly different connotations than the more general "held".

Common error

Avoid using "they were held" when the active voice is more appropriate and direct. For instance, instead of "they were held by the police", consider "the police held them" for a more active and concise sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were held" functions as a passive voice construction. This grammatical structure shifts the focus from the actor to the recipient of the action, as exemplified in Ludwig, where sentences show individuals or objects being subjected to a holding action.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they were held" is a common and grammatically sound construction used primarily in the passive voice to indicate a state of detention, containment, or consideration. As evidenced by Ludwig, it appears frequently in news reports, academic papers, and general writing. The phrase's neutral register makes it suitable for a wide range of contexts. The most frequent authoritative sources using this phrase include The New York Times, The Guardian and BBC. While the phrase is generally correct and usable, remember that in some contexts, using a more active voice could create more direct and concise sentences. Also, alternative phrases like "they were detained" or "they were confined" may provide more specific meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were detained

Replaces "held" with "detained", emphasizing a temporary holding, often by authorities.

they were confined

Substitutes "held" with "confined", highlighting restriction of movement to a specific area.

they were imprisoned

Replaces "held" with "imprisoned", specifying incarceration as the form of holding.

they were kept

Uses "kept" instead of "held", suggesting a more general form of maintaining possession or control.

they were captured

Replaces "held" with "captured", implying that an element of force was involved.

they were judged

Substitutes "held" with "judged", focusing on legal or formal evaluation.

they were deemed

Replaces "held" with "deemed", suggesting a formal assessment or opinion.

they were considered

Uses "considered" instead of "held", focusing on evaluation and assessment of an idea.

they were regarded

Replaces "held" with "regarded", highlighting how someone or something is viewed or esteemed.

they were viewed

Substitutes "held" with "viewed", highlighting perspective and opinion of an idea.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "they were held" to be more specific?

To be more specific, consider using terms like "they were detained" if referring to a temporary holding by authorities, or "they were confined" if emphasizing restricted movement.

Is "they were held" formal or informal?

"They were held" is generally neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though the specific situation dictates the most appropriate phrasing. More formal situations might benefit from more precise vocabulary.

What does "they were held" imply about the situation?

"They were held" suggests a state of being kept or contained, whether physically, legally, or conceptually. The specific implication depends on the context; it could refer to detention, imprisonment, or a state of suspension.

What's the difference between "they were held" and "they were kept"?

While both imply a state of being maintained, "they were held" often suggests a more deliberate or forceful action of keeping something or someone in a particular state or place. "They were kept" can be more general and less forceful.