they were recovered

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were recovered" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to items, people, or situations that have been found or returned to a previous state after being lost or damaged. Example: "After the storm, it was a relief to hear that the missing artifacts were recovered from the flooded area."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They were recovered from 2000 to 2005.

The New York Times

The remains were identified after they were recovered in 1994.

The New York Times

Thieves reportedly stole them twice but they were recovered each time.

The Guardian - Books

As soon as they were recovered, deportation proceedings against the boys began.

The New Yorker

"They were recovered under very questionable circumstances," a senior law enforcement official said.

The New York Times

In the case of Monica Lewinsky, they were recovered from the hard disk of a home computer.

The Economist

They were recovered in northwestern Mali, near the borders of Algeria and Mauritania, according to officials and news media reports.

The New York Times

Both paintings were scratched and torn and showed signs of humidity damage when they were recovered by the police in August 2006 under mysterious circumstances.

The New York Times - Arts

Under the settlement, title passed to the insurers, though the Tate had first option to repurchase them if they were recovered.

The New York Times

They were recovered by police nearly two years later, and are undergoing repairs for scrapes, punctures, loose paint and moisture damage.

The New York Times - Arts

The ship carrying these back works to Germany was diverted to England because of the war; it was not until 1921 that they were recovered.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "they were recovered", ensure the context clearly indicates what "they" refers to, avoiding ambiguity. For instance, specify the objects or individuals being retrieved in the same sentence or a closely preceding one.

Common error

Avoid overuse of passive constructions like "they were recovered" in favor of active voice where appropriate. For example, instead of "The documents were recovered by the investigators", consider "The investigators recovered the documents" for a more direct and engaging statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were recovered" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that a subject (represented by "they") underwent the action of being retrieved or regained. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

40%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they were recovered" is a grammatically correct passive construction primarily used to indicate the successful retrieval of something previously lost or stolen. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability and wide usage. It's commonly found in news, scientific, and academic contexts, reflecting a neutral to formal register. While alternatives like "they were found" exist, "they were recovered" implies a more deliberate or challenging retrieval process. When employing this phrase, clarity and context are key to ensure the reader understands what "they" refers to. Avoiding overuse of passive voice is also recommended for more engaging writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were retrieved

Replaces "recovered" with "retrieved", emphasizing the act of bringing something back.

they were found

Uses "found" instead of "recovered", focusing on the discovery of something that was lost.

they were restored

Emphasizes the act of returning something to its original condition.

they were reclaimed

Suggests that something was taken or lost and then regained.

they were salvaged

Implies that something was saved from destruction or loss.

they were rescued

Highlights the act of saving someone or something from a dangerous situation.

they were located

Focuses on the process of finding the specific location of something.

they were regained

Suggests a return to a previous state or possession.

they were brought back

A more general phrase indicating a return to a previous place or condition.

they were unearthed

Implies discovering something hidden or forgotten, often through excavation.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "they were recovered" to sound more active?

Consider using the active voice to make the sentence more direct. For example, instead of "they were recovered", try "someone recovered them" or specify who did the recovering, such as "the police "recovered" them".

What are some synonyms for "they were recovered"?

Alternatives include "they were retrieved", "they were found", "they were located", or "they were salvaged", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. For instance, if the items were saved from damage, "they were salvaged" might be most fitting.

Is "they were recovered" formal or informal language?

The phrase is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, in very informal settings, you might opt for simpler phrasing like "they were found".

When is it appropriate to use "they were recovered" instead of "they were found"?

"They were recovered" suggests a process of retrieval, often implying effort or difficulty in finding something that was lost or stolen. "They were found" is more general and simply indicates that something was located, without necessarily implying it was previously lost or required effort to retrieve.