they were positioned

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were positioned" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the placement or arrangement of people or objects in a specific location or context. Example: "The soldiers were positioned strategically around the perimeter to ensure maximum security."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Objects are shown as they were positioned at the time of the tour.

The New York Times

The way they were positioned means that any sudden movement tends to send them headfirst".

The New York Times - Sports

What you're suggesting is they were positioned before globalization hit in a powerful way of the nineties.

University of California, Berkeley

Four times in the past seven years, they were positioned perfectly to win a playoff series, and still lost.

The New York Times - Sports

They were positioned just over Trump's left shoulder, in the center of the frame for news photographers.

The Washington Post

Fourteen males volunteered in experiment 2. They were positioned on the sled on a centrifuge in the same manner as in experiment 1.

International Journal of Psychophysiology

We designed forward and reverse primers so that they were positioned further away from the primer set contained in the Identifiler Kit.

Legal Medicine

He claimed the watchdog was only now approaching police officers to establish where they were positioned at the time of the shooting.

The Guardian

For a start, Carter recorded exactly where items were found in the tomb, and how they were positioned relative to each other.

The Guardian

When he found the foot bones, they were positioned right next to each other in a way that seemed to be lifelike positions.

The Guardian

But the pilots needed to be able to see, so they were positioned standing up rather than seated and given small panels to look through.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the arrangement of objects or people, consider using more descriptive verbs than just "positioned" to add nuance and clarity to your writing. For instance, verbs such as "stationed", "aligned", or "arranged" can provide more specific information about the spatial relationships.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on the passive voice ("they were positioned") as it can sometimes obscure the agent performing the action. Consider using the active voice when appropriate to make your writing more direct and engaging, for example: "The general positioned the troops" rather than "The troops were positioned by the general".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were positioned" functions as a passive construction, indicating that a subject has been placed or arranged in a specific location or manner. This is confirmed by Ludwig AI, which deems the phrase correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

40%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they were positioned" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and applicable in various contexts, primarily within science, news, and academic domains. Its function is to describe the placement or arrangement of subjects, often implying a deliberate intent. While versatile, writers should be mindful of potential overuse of the passive voice and consider active alternatives to add dynamism to their writing. Several semantically related phrases, such as "they were placed" or "they were situated", can provide nuanced alternatives depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were placed

Focuses on the act of putting something in a specific location.

they were situated

Highlights the location or setting where something is located.

they were arranged

Emphasizes the ordered or organized manner of placement.

they were located

Indicates the specific geographical or spatial position.

they were stationed

Suggests a more formal or strategic assignment to a position.

they were set

Focuses on the action of fixing or establishing something in place.

they were aligned

Emphasizes the correct orientation or arrangement in relation to something else.

they were installed

Implies the formal and more permanent setting of a device or system.

they were fixed

Focuses on a firm, unchangeable position or location.

they were established

Highlights setting up a more permanent situation or base.

FAQs

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

The phrase "they were positioned" is used to describe the placement or arrangement of subjects in a particular location or context. For example: "They were positioned strategically to defend the city".

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

You can use alternatives like "they were placed", "they were situated", or "they were located" depending on the context.

Is it better to use active or passive voice when using the phrase "they were positioned"?

While "they were positioned" is grammatically correct, using the active voice can sometimes be more direct. For example, instead of "They were positioned by the commander", you could say "The commander positioned them".

What's the difference between "they were positioned" and "they were standing"?

"They were positioned" implies a deliberate act of placing someone or something in a specific location for a purpose. "They were standing", on the other hand, simply describes their posture in a certain place without necessarily implying a strategic intent. For example, soldiers might be "positioned" for defense, while guests at a party are simply "standing".