they were nominated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were nominated" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to individuals or groups who have been put forward for an award, position, or recognition. Example: "After much deliberation, we are pleased to announce that they were nominated for the prestigious award this year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The following year, at the 58th Primetime Emmy Awards, the series received a nomination for Outstanding Drama Series, which they were nominated for again in 2007.

Wikipedia

They did not apply for the program; rather, they were nominated by a network of advisors.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Like all MacArthur Fellows, they were nominated anonymously by their colleagues.

Columbia University

In earlier decades, they were nominated by more heterogeneous supporting constituencies.

The Washington Post

On their Edinburgh debut in 2006, they were nominated for a best newcomer award.

The Guardian

They were nominated to participate in the June 23-27 program by teachers, community leaders, professionals and tribal leaders.

Princeton University

"The real stars are the fans and contributors," they wrote in a blog post when they were nominated.

The New York Times - Arts

Last year they were nominated for three Brit awards for their distinctive understated ambient indie pop sound.

Independent

Still, he strongly supported Mr. Mondale in 1984 and Mr. Dukakis in 1988 once they were nominated.

The New York Times

This means they were nominated by the board and voted for by what is known as the "A" shareholders,.

The Guardian

The honor recognizes their distinguished efforts in the scientific and social applications of science, for which they were nominated and elected by their AAAS peers.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they were nominated" when the focus is on the individuals or group and their selection, rather than the act of nominating itself. This passive construction is effective for emphasizing the recipients of the nomination.

Common error

Avoid using "they were nominated by themselves", as it creates a reflexive construction that doesn't make sense. Nominations are typically done by others.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were nominated" functions as a passive construction, indicating that a group or individuals have been proposed or put forward for a specific role, award, or recognition. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this structure is grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Science

6%

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they were nominated" is a grammatically correct and very common passive construction used to indicate that individuals or a group have been proposed for an award, position, or recognition. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. Its usage spans various contexts, including news, academia, science, formal communications, and general knowledge. While alternatives exist, such as "they received a nomination", the original phrase effectively emphasizes the act of being nominated. When employing this phrase, ensure the context accurately reflects that the nomination was performed by an external entity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they received a nomination

Replaces the passive voice with an active construction, emphasizing the act of receiving.

nominations were given to them

Emphasizes the nominations themselves as the subject.

they were put forward

Focuses on the act of proposing them as candidates.

they were selected as nominees

Highlights the selection process and their status as nominees.

they earned nominations

Indicates the effort or achievement that led to their nomination.

they were shortlisted

Specifies that they made it to a reduced list of candidates.

their names were put in nomination

Formal and somewhat archaic way of expressing the same concept.

they were candidates

Simply states their status as potential recipients.

they contended for nomination

Implies a competitive aspect to the nomination process.

they stood as nominees

Suggests their official presence as nominees.

FAQs

How is "they were nominated" used in a sentence?

The phrase "they were nominated" indicates that a group or individuals have been formally proposed as candidates for a position, award, or recognition. For example: "They were nominated for their outstanding contributions to the field".

What's the difference between "they were nominated" and "they received a nomination"?

While both phrases convey a similar meaning, "they were nominated" emphasizes the act of being proposed, while "they received a nomination" ("they received a nomination") focuses on the act of receiving the nomination.

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

You could use alternatives like "they were put forward", "they received a nomination", or "they were selected as nominees" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "they have been nominated" instead of "they were nominated"?

Yes, "they have been nominated" is also correct. The present perfect tense ("have been") implies that the nomination happened at some point in the past and is still relevant, while "they were nominated" simply states that the nomination occurred in the past.