they were revealed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were revealed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the disclosure or unveiling of information, secrets, or truths. Example: "After months of speculation, the results of the investigation were finally revealed to the public."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

When they were revealed Corbyn sacked him.

The Guardian - Opinion

They were revealed on this site in January.

The Economist

Once business reality returned, they were revealed as unsustainable promises.

The Economist

Vaz said: "The activities of undercover police officers caused disbelief when they were revealed in 2011.

The Guardian

They were revealed last year to be written by a research scientist called Brooke Magnanti.

The Guardian - Film

The East Germans knew about Helmut Kohl's misdemeanours long before they were revealed to the world.

The Economist

He said they seemed to be walking away from their concessions since they were revealed.

The New York Times

President Obama apologized for the experiments to President Alvaro Colom of Guatemala last year, after they were revealed.

The New York Times - Health

At first glance, the enemy appeared to be marching in intelligent formations, but on closer examination, he said, they were revealed to be "sort of running laps".

The New York Times - Magazine

They were revealed as Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg called on pro-Europeans to unite against the "anti-Europe establishment" led by Farage.

The Guardian

They were revealed just days after he was reinstated as the party's general election candidate in South Basildon and East Thurrock.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they were revealed" when you want to emphasize the act of something becoming known, often after being hidden or secret. This is particularly useful in news reporting, scientific findings, or historical accounts where uncovering facts is crucial.

Common error

Overusing passive voice can make your writing seem weak or evasive. Ensure that using "they were revealed" is the most effective way to convey the information, and that the active voice doesn't provide a clearer or more direct statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were revealed" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject ('they') underwent the action of being made known. It highlights the outcome of revealing, often emphasizing the information or entities that were previously concealed. Ludwig examples show its usage in various contexts, from news reporting to scientific findings.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

20%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they were revealed" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to indicate that something previously hidden or unknown has been made public or discovered. As supported by Ludwig, this passive construction frequently appears in news, scientific reports, and encyclopedia entries, where the emphasis is on the information disclosed rather than the agent disclosing it. When writing, make sure that you are not misusing passive voice, or an alternative such as "they were disclosed" or they came to light might be more appropriate. The frequency and authoritative sources using this phrase confirm its reliability and broad applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were disclosed

Focuses on the act of revealing information that was previously confidential or secret.

they were unveiled

Suggests a more ceremonial or public revelation, like a new product or artwork.

they were discovered

Implies finding something that was previously unknown or hidden.

they were exposed

Often used when something negative or scandalous is revealed.

they were brought to light

Emphasizes the act of making something clear or understood.

they came to light

Focuses on the event of becoming known, often without specifying how.

they were made public

Highlights the act of information being shared with a wider audience.

they were identified

Focuses on the act of establishing what something is.

they were recognized

Indicates acknowledgment or acceptance of something.

they were understood

Shifts the focus to comprehension or grasping the meaning of something.

FAQs

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

Use "they were revealed" when you want to emphasize that something was made known after being previously hidden or unknown. For example, "The secret documents "they were revealed" after a lengthy legal battle".

What are some alternatives to "they were revealed"?

You can use alternatives like "they were disclosed", "they were unveiled", or "they were discovered" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use active or passive voice when saying something was revealed?

Whether to use active or passive voice depends on the context. Passive voice ("they were revealed") emphasizes the thing being revealed, while active voice (e.g., "someone revealed them") emphasizes the person or entity doing the revealing.

What's the difference between "they were revealed" and "they came to light"?

"They were revealed" implies an action of uncovering, while "they came to light" suggests that something became known without a specific agent causing it to be known.