they were raised

USAGE SUMMARY

"they were raised" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone's upbringing or background. Example: They were raised in a wealthy family, so they had many advantages growing up.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's the way they were raised".

The New York Times

They were raised, clinked and emptied.

The New York Times - Sports

And they were raised tough".

The New York Times - Sports

They were raised that way.

The New York Times - Books

They were raised in a loving family.

The New York Times

They were raised to show and demand respect, and they were raised to lead.

The Washington Post

"They were raised to be perfect," a nephew recalled.

The New Yorker

They were raised well, not like the women today.

The New Yorker

"They were raised surrounded by adults," Mr. Blasberg went on.

The New York Times

As a legacy of the place where they were raised?

The New York Times

They were raised on good old-fashioned Yankee self-reliance.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they were raised" to provide context about someone's values, beliefs, or behaviors by referencing their upbringing.

Common error

Avoid using "they were raised" when you intend to describe an action they actively performed; use active voice instead. For example, don't say "They were raised the flag" when you mean "They raised the flag."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were raised" functions as a passive construction, indicating that someone or something influenced the upbringing or development of a group of people. As Ludwig examples demonstrate, it's used to provide context about someone's background or formative experiences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

21%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they were raised" is a grammatically correct and frequently used passive construction that describes someone's upbringing or formative experiences. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for written English and conveys information about how individuals were nurtured and educated. Predominantly found in news and media, science and academic contexts, the phrase serves to explain the origins of values, beliefs, or behaviors, providing essential background. When using the phrase, be mindful of maintaining passive voice and use active voice when refering to an action that someone actively performed. Alternatives such as "they were brought up" or "their upbringing was" can be used for variety, while it's important to avoid the incorrect form "they were raise".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were brought up

Synonymous replacement, focusing on the act of nurturing and educating during childhood.

they were nurtured

Emphasizes the care and support received during their formative years.

they were cultivated

Highlights the deliberate development of skills and qualities.

they were educated

Focuses specifically on the formal or informal learning they received.

they were taught

Directly indicates the imparting of knowledge and skills.

their upbringing was

Shifts the focus to the overall environment and experiences of their childhood.

they grew up

A more general term indicating the period of childhood and adolescence.

their background included

Focuses on the circumstances and experiences that shaped their development.

they had the experience of being raised

More formal and emphasizes the process of being brought up.

they were parented

Highlights the role of parenting in their development.

FAQs

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

Use "they were raised" to describe the environment or circumstances in which someone grew up. For example, "They were raised in a loving family" or "they were raised in poverty".

What are some alternatives to saying "they were raised"?

You can use alternatives like "they were brought up", "their upbringing was", or "they grew up" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "they were raise" instead of "they were raised"?

No, "they were raise" is grammatically incorrect. The correct passive form is "they were raised", using the past participle of the verb "raise".

How does someone's upbringing, as described by "they were raised", influence their actions?

The phrase "they were raised" often implies that a person's upbringing significantly shapes their values, beliefs, and behaviors. For example, saying "they were raised to be polite" suggests that their upbringing instilled politeness as a core value.