they were injected

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were injected" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing medical procedures, vaccinations, or any scenario involving the introduction of a substance into a body through a syringe or similar method. Example: "After the vaccine was prepared, they were injected with the serum to ensure their immunity."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

15 min after the first injection, they were injected into the same spot with 10 µl of NOR3 at 1.5 mM (1% DMSO as vehicle).

Plosone

The cells probably caused irregular heartbeats because they were immature when they were injected.

The Guardian

Once they were injected with the chemical, called ZIP, they walked right back onto the plate.

The New York Times

They were injected with, rather than fed, the disease-causing agent.

The New York Times - Science

"Some say they were injected with shark cartilage or with sheep collagen," Dr. Mayoral said.

The New York Times

The following day, they were injected with cocaine and placed in the chamber that was not their preferred side.

University of California, Berkeley

None of the opioid antagonists produced a significant effect in the tail-clip experiment when they were injected alone.

Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior

In toxicity analysis, some of the linkers induced lethal toxicities when they were injected at high concentrations (> 600 μM).

Journal of Controlled Release

The house mice licked their paws furiously for several minutes after being injected with venom or formaldehyde, but not when they were injected with salt water.

The Guardian

They were given six shots over six months: two of Alvac followed by two more sessions where they were injected with both vaccines.

The Guardian

WASHINGTON — If they were injected with truth serum, most politicians in Washington would admit they do not really care much who runs the Commerce Department.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing medical or scientific procedures, use "they were injected" to maintain objectivity and focus on the action performed, rather than the actor. It's appropriate in formal writing where the agent performing the injection is irrelevant or unknown.

Common error

Avoid using "they were injected" when the actor is known and relevant. In such cases, active voice constructions like "the doctor injected them" provide clearer and more direct communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were injected" functions as a passive construction, typically serving as the predicate of a sentence. As shown by Ludwig, it indicates that a group of subjects underwent the action of being injected with a substance.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

73%

News & Media

25%

Academia

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they were injected" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction, especially in scientific and news contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and prevalence through numerous examples. While generally neutral in register, it leans towards formality and is most appropriate when the agent performing the injection is irrelevant or unknown. For clarity and directness, active voice constructions may be preferable when the actor is known and relevant. Related phrases such as "they received an injection" or "they were given an injection" offer alternative ways to express the same concept.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were given an injection

Uses a more common and slightly less formal way of expressing the same action.

they received an injection

Replaces the passive voice with an active construction, focusing on the recipient of the injection.

a substance was injected into them

Emphasizes the substance being injected rather than the action itself.

they had an injection

A simpler, more conversational way of expressing the same action.

an injection was administered to them

Reorders the sentence while maintaining a passive voice and formal tone.

injection was performed on them

Formal and clinical way of stating the procedure.

they underwent injection

Focuses on the process from the subject's perspective, suggesting a medical or experimental procedure.

they were subjected to an injection

Highlights the experience from the subject's perspective, potentially implying involuntariness.

they were inoculated

Specifically implies injection for the purpose of immunization or introducing a culture.

they were vaccinated

Implies an injection specifically for vaccination purposes.

FAQs

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

Use "they were injected" to describe a situation where multiple subjects received an injection, typically in a scientific or medical context. For example, "After the trial, "they were injected" with the experimental drug".

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

You can use alternatives like "they received an injection", "they were given an injection", or "an injection was administered to them" depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Which is correct, "they were injected" or "they received an injection"?

Both phrases are correct, but ""they were injected"" uses passive voice, focusing on the action, while "they received an injection" uses active voice, focusing on the recipient of the action. The choice depends on the desired emphasis.

What's the difference between "they were injected" and "they were inoculated"?

"They were injected" is a general term for receiving an injection of any substance. "They were inoculated" specifically means they were injected with a substance to produce immunity to a disease.