they were opened

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence 'they were opened' is correct and usable in written English.
This sentence is usually used in the context of a subject having been opened (usually a container of some sort). For example: 'The boxes were opened, revealing a pile of books inside.'.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They were opened with battery-powered letter openers.

The New York Times

AHRENS: Open or before they were opened?

Yale University

They were opened after the revolution that overthrew Nicolae Ceausescu.

The New York Times

But they were opened, each one of them.

The New Yorker

They were opened several hours later, so that the place might be aired.

The New Yorker

In 1979, the year they were opened to the public, 20,000 visitors came.

The New York Times - Arts

The cookies might be pulverized by the time they were opened.

The New Yorker

They were opened and adjourned in 1983, and reopened after Sampson submitted his reports in 1987.

The Guardian

First they were opened up down the left side, where Howedes seemed to be targeted by Messi and Ezequiel Lavezzi.

Independent

They might start closing gates in as soon as a week, in the same gradual manner as they were opened.

The New York Times

Unusually, he had the chance to take action to stop the archives being 'weeded' before they were opened to historians".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "they were opened", ensure the subject (the 'they') is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For example: "The files were opened" is clearer than "They were opened."

Common error

Avoid using "they were opened" without a clear antecedent. Ensure the reader knows what 'they' refers to. Without context, the sentence can be confusing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were opened" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that an unspecified agent performed the action of opening something. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and widespread usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Science

23%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they were opened" is a versatile and commonly used passive voice construction, as confirmed by Ludwig. It effectively communicates a state change from closed to open, whether literally or metaphorically. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, its neutral register makes it suitable for a broad audience. Ludwig's AI identifies the phrase as grammatically correct, although it emphasizes the importance of contextual clarity to avoid ambiguity. For alternative expressions, consider "they had been unsealed", or "they became accessible" to tailor the meaning to specific situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they had been unsealed

Focuses on the action of unsealing something previously sealed.

they had been revealed

Emphasizes the act of making something visible or known.

they were discovered

Highlights the finding or uncovering of something previously unknown.

they became accessible

Indicates that something is now available or reachable.

they were made public

Focuses on the act of sharing information or making something available to everyone.

they were unlocked

Implies a process of gaining access or freedom.

they were released

Highlights the act of freeing something from confinement or restriction.

they were initiated

Focuses on the commencement or start of something.

they were commenced

Similar to 'initiated', but often used in more formal contexts.

they were initiated

Emphasizes the beginning or launch of something.

FAQs

What does "they were opened" mean?

The phrase "they were opened" indicates that something, referred to as "they", was in a closed or sealed state and has now been accessed or made accessible. The context usually implies physical opening (like a door or container) or metaphorical opening (like an investigation).

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

Use "they were opened" when you want to describe the action of something being unsealed or accessed after being closed. For example, "The archives "they were opened" to the public in 2002."

What are some alternatives to "they were opened"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "they had been unsealed", "they became accessible", or "they were released".

Is it better to use active or passive voice with the verb 'open'?

The choice between active and passive voice depends on the context. Use active voice (e.g., 'Someone opened the door') when you want to emphasize the actor. Use passive voice ("they were opened") when you want to emphasize the object or when the actor is unknown or unimportant.