they were informing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were informing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing an action where someone is providing information or updates to others in the past tense. Example: "They were informing the team about the changes in the project timeline during the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Postal officials said they were informing different groups of workers about Cipro in different shifts.

The New York Times

Nor would it be sensible to use such indicators in any cross-national comparative study unless they were informing wider qualitative studies.

Health Research Policy and Systems

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

They were informed of all aspects of the study and signed the informed consent.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

They were informed about the study and were enabled to ask further information.

Plosone

Informed consent was signed by all participants after they were informed about the study.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

They were informed of the nature of the experiment and provided written informed consent.

European Journal of Applied Physiology

They were informed of the study aims, requirements and risks before being provided written informed consent.

British Journal of Sports Medicine

They were informed the case was to be closed.

The Guardian - Music

The police declined to say how they were informed.

The New York Times

(Otherwise, they were informed, the upstairs neighbors could hear everything).

The New York Times

Police said they were informed by someone watching the stream.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they were informing" when you want to emphasize the ongoing nature of the act of providing information or updates to a group.

Common error

Avoid overuse of passive constructions like "they were informed." Active voice often makes your writing clearer and more direct; consider rephrasing as "The officials informed them."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were informing" functions as a verb phrase in the past continuous tense, indicating an ongoing action of providing information by a group to others. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they were informing" is a grammatically sound verb phrase used to describe a past, ongoing action of providing information. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. While the phrase itself is neutral, context dictates the tone. The phrase appears in various sources like News & Media and Science. For alternative phrasings, consider "they notified" or "they advised" for concise or guidance-focused options respectively. When writing, favor active voice for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they notified

This alternative replaces "informing" with a more concise synonym, "notified", which maintains the original meaning of conveying information.

they advised

This suggests a more advisory role in providing information, implying guidance along with the information.

they communicated to

This is a more formal and broad way of saying that information was passed on.

they updated

This suggests that the information being conveyed is new or a change from previous information.

they made aware

This focuses on the result of informing, which is that the recipients became aware of something.

they kept abreast

This implies a continuous informing process so that people stay current with the events and news.

they briefed

This suggests a concise and formal delivery of information, often in a professional setting.

they filled in

This suggests providing missing information to complete someone's understanding.

they kept in the loop

This implies that they were including someone in communications.

they let know

This is an informal way of saying they provided information.

FAQs

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

You can use "they were informing" to describe a past action of providing information. For example: "They were informing the public about the new regulations."

What's a more formal alternative to "they were informing"?

A more formal alternative could be "they were notifying" or "they were advising", depending on the context.

Is "they were informing" grammatically correct?

Yes, "they were informing" is grammatically correct. It is the past continuous tense of the verb "to inform."

What's the difference between "they were informing" and "they informed"?

"They were informing" suggests an ongoing action in the past, while "they informed" indicates a completed action. For example: "They were informing the public throughout the day" versus "they informed the public at the press conference".