they were not notified

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of a sentence "they were not notified" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that someone was not informed about something. For example, "The family was disappointed when they were not notified about the change in plans."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

The elk escaped around mid-August, but state officials say they were not notified of the escape until September.

The New York Times

They said they were not notified that he had died until three days later, in an e-mail that said simply that Dr. Calvo "has passed away".

The New York Times

Now an outraged group of parents wants to find out why they were not notified two years earlier, when the site was placed on the Superfund list.

The New York Times

Smith and his lawyer told the Guardian that they were not notified of the video's planned release on Tuesday until seeing it on social media.

The Guardian

The verdicts were issued by the Ye County People's Court on April 1, but lawyers for the four women and three men said they were not notified until last week.

The New York Times

John C. Browne, the director of the Los Alamos laboratory, said he was not informed of the loss until the night of May 31, while F.B.I. and Energy Department officials in Washington said they were not notified until June 1.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

"Many people, particularly women, had made plans for their retirement and felt that they weren't notified of the changes early enough – leaving them with little to no time to make alternative plans to fund their retirement".

The Guardian - Money

Now, three days after its sudden announcement, several vendors are waiting anxiously for their final invoice checks, and say they weren't notified of Munchery's end, nor has the business responded to persistent requests for explanations.

TechCrunch

Perhaps in part because they are not notified, people sued in New York City often fail to appear in court to protect their interests, according to a study released last year by MFY Legal Services, a nonprofit law firm in New York.

The New York Times

Hospital personnel may think you appear non-responsive or are not responding appropriately if they are not notified about your hearing loss.

Huffington Post

Countries show interest in the legislation but they are not notifying the Canadian Commissioner of Patents of their intent to use the legislation.

Globalization and Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "they were not notified", ensure the context clearly indicates who "they" refers to and what information they should have received. Be specific to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "they were not notified" if the reader doesn't clearly know who "they" are. Replace "they" with the specific group or individuals to enhance clarity. For example, instead of "They were not notified", use "The residents were not notified".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were not notified" functions as a passive construction indicating that a group or individuals did not receive information. Ludwig AI confirms that it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

36%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they were not notified" is a grammatically correct and commonly used passive construction that indicates a lack of communication. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for general use. This phrase appears most frequently in news and media contexts, as well as in scientific literature. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying who "they" refers to. Alternatives include "they were not informed" or "they did not receive notification", depending on the desired level of formality. When writing, avoid ambiguity by making the subject clear and ensure that you aren't claiming that something was not notified, when it was in fact notified.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they did not receive notification

Replaces the passive voice with an active construction using "receive".

they were not informed

Substitutes "notified" with the more general term "informed".

notification was not given to them

Rephrases the sentence to emphasize the lack of action.

they remained uninformed

Emphasizes the continuous state of lacking information.

they had no notice

Uses a noun phrase to indicate the absence of notification.

they weren't alerted

Replaces "notified" with "alerted", implying a sense of urgency or warning.

they were not advised

Uses "advised" to suggest a more formal or official type of notification.

they were kept in the dark

Employs an idiomatic expression to suggest a deliberate lack of information.

they were unaware

Focuses on the resulting state of lacking knowledge.

they didn't get word

Uses a colloquial expression for not being informed.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "they were not notified" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using "they did not receive notification" or "they were not informed". These alternatives are suitable for professional or academic writing.

What is a more casual way to say "they were not notified"?

Informal alternatives include "they didn't get word" or "they were kept in the dark". Be mindful of your audience and the context when using these phrases.

Is it better to use active or passive voice when saying someone wasn't notified?

Both active and passive voices are acceptable. "They were not notified" (passive) emphasizes the lack of notification, while "Someone did not notify them" (active) highlights the person or entity responsible for the failure to notify. The choice depends on the desired emphasis.

What's the difference between "they were not notified" and "they were not informed"?

While similar, "they were not notified" suggests a formal or official communication process was missed. "They were not informed" is a more general statement indicating a lack of knowledge, regardless of the communication method.