they were hidden

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "They were hidden" is a grammatically correct and usable sentence in written English.
You can use this sentence to indicate that someone or something was out of sight or not visible. For example: The jewels were hidden behind a secret wall in the old castle.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

They were hidden between the pages of one of his books and came tumbling out and fell to the floor.

The New York Times

For decades they were hidden away.

The Economist

Perhaps they were hidden in the depressions behind the mounds.

The New Yorker

Its agonies tended to be private rather than public; often, they were hidden away.

The New Yorker

They were hidden away in the laboratory that was now bursting into flames.

The New Yorker

"The lower parts of the woman's body were less noble, so they were hidden," Bruna said.

The New York Times

They were hidden in playing cards, pens, pencils, gramophone records, and game boards.

The Guardian

At all times they were hidden from the press and public by screens.

The Guardian

No one asserted that they were hidden for any improper purposes.

The New Yorker

There is some mould and water damage because they were hidden in cellars of houses".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

"But I thought it's a good piece because there's some messages there they were hidden messages, of course, in those days.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Vary your sentence structure by using synonyms like "they were concealed" or "they were secreted" to avoid repetition and enhance the flow of your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "they were hidden" when you simply mean something is lost or missing without any implication of intentional concealment. Instead, use "they were missing" or "they were lost" in those contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were hidden" functions as a passive construction indicating that a group of entities (represented by 'they') underwent the action of being concealed. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and common.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Science

7%

Wiki

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they were hidden" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, as Ludwig confirms. It serves to describe the state of being concealed, often implying intentionality. While the phrase finds prevalent usage in News & Media, it is versatile enough for use in various contexts, albeit less commonly in more formal settings. When writing, it's best to use the phrase when you want to emphasize the state of being out of sight. Consider synonyms such as "they were concealed", to avoid repetition, but avoid using it as a direct replacement for similar but semantically different phrases as "they were missing".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were concealed

Replaces "hidden" with a direct synonym, maintaining a high degree of semantic equivalence.

they were secreted

"Secreted" implies a more deliberate or careful act of hiding.

they were tucked away

Emphasizes the action of placing something in a safe or private location.

they were out of sight

Focuses on the state of not being visible, rather than the act of hiding.

they were not visible

Similar to "out of sight", this phrase directly states that something could not be seen.

their location was unknown

Shifts the focus to the uncertainty of their whereabouts.

they remained unseen

Emphasizes the continuous state of not being seen.

their existence was unknown

Expands the concept to not just hiding their position, but hiding that they exist.

they were shrouded

"Shrouded" suggests a covering or obscuring, which results in them being hidden.

they were kept secret

Focuses on the intentional act of maintaining secrecy.

FAQs

How can I use "they were hidden" in a sentence?

You can use "they were hidden" to indicate that something or someone was deliberately placed out of sight. For example, "The documents "they were hidden" in a secret compartment."

What's a good alternative to "they were hidden"?

Alternatives include "they were concealed", "they were secreted", or "they were tucked away", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "they was hidden" instead of "they were hidden"?

No, "they was hidden" is grammatically incorrect. The correct plural form is "they were hidden". The verb 'were' is used with plural subjects like 'they'.

What's the difference between "they were hidden" and "they were lost"?

"They were hidden" implies intentional concealment, while "they were lost" suggests an accidental or unintentional disappearance. Use "they were hidden" when something was deliberately placed out of sight, and "they were lost" when its location is unknown without intention.