they were reversed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were reversed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation where the order or position of items has been changed to the opposite or contrary arrangement. Example: "After the error was discovered, the results were incorrect, so they were reversed to reflect the accurate data."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Then followed the same emotions for West Indies and they were reversed for England.

The Guardian - Sport

President Mitterrand's nationalisations of the early 1980s interrupted things, but when they were reversed in the 1990s, the upward trend in share ownership in France resumed.

The Economist

Some NGOs have attempted to make courageous decisions but they were reversed soon afterwards due to their lack of popularity amongst their supporters and donors, leading to the resignation of one of their board members.

The Guardian

And while those numbers aren't very far apart, it's noteworthy that they were reversed just 20 months ago, when Pew conducted a similar poll.

Huffington Post

The small openings in farmers markets, self-employment, State owned and foreign enterprises that supposedly Raul Castro convinced him to allow had relieved the economic turmoil, but they were reversed as soon as Venezuela's oil and dollars were pumped in 2000.

Huffington Post

For example, we checked that for the lower jaw triangle (points 1 3 in Figure 1) positive Mmax scores corresponded to lengthening in each assemblage (in cases where they were reversed, we multiplied all values by −1).

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Administration officials said they were reversing guidelines put in place by the Bush administration that called for evaluating new transit projects largely by how much they cost and how much travel time they would save.

The New York Times

The opinions of the head of the office are binding, except on the rare occasions when they are reversed by the attorney general or the president.

The New York Times - Magazine

Oy! Also, the volume buttons seem like they're reversed — up is on the left and down is on the right.

TechCrunch

When they are reversed or modified, it usually is by a future president.

Huffington Post

These behaviors are largely dependent on the cholinergic system because they are reversed by muscarinic antagonists.

Alzheimer's Research and Therapy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "they were reversed", ensure that the subject of 'they' is clearly defined in the preceding context to avoid ambiguity. For instance, specify what exactly was reversed.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "they were reversed" implies a complete return to an original state. Sometimes, reversal only corrects a specific aspect, not the entire situation. Clarify the extent of the change to prevent misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were reversed" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject 'they' underwent a change where their order, direction, or state was altered to the opposite. Ludwig AI highlights that this usage is grammatically correct and commonly found in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they were reversed" is a grammatically sound and commonly used passive construction, indicating that the subjects underwent a change to their opposite or original state. According to Ludwig AI, it is suitable for diverse contexts, especially in News & Media and Science. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity regarding what "they" refers to and the extent of the reversal. Alternatives such as "they were overturned" or "they were annulled" may offer greater precision depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they got overturned

This alternative implies a formal or legal decision being changed.

they became inverted

This alternative suggests a change in position or orientation.

they were turned around

This alternative emphasizes a complete change in direction or outcome.

they were annulled

This alternative is applicable when a decision or agreement is cancelled or invalidated.

they were invalidated

Similar to annulled, this suggests that something was declared not legally binding.

they were rescinded

This emphasizes the withdrawal or cancellation of a law or agreement.

they were revoked

Suggests a formal cancellation or taking back of something like a license or permit.

they were undone

This implies that previous actions were cancelled or neutralized.

they were undone

This suggests that previous actions were cancelled or neutralized.

they were called back

This phrase conveys that something or someone that has been sent somewhere has been asked to return.

FAQs

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

Use "they were reversed" to indicate that a previous order, decision, or process has been changed to its opposite. For example, "The initial findings were incorrect, so "they were reversed" after further analysis".

What's the difference between "they were reversed" and "they were inverted"?

"They were reversed" generally implies a change to an opposite state or direction, while "they were inverted" suggests a change in position, often upside down or inside out. The choice depends on the specific context of the change.

Which is more formal, "they were reversed" or "they were turned around"?

"They were reversed" generally carries a slightly more formal tone than "they were turned around". The latter is often used in more casual or descriptive contexts.

What can I say instead of ""they were reversed"" in a legal context?

In a legal context, you could use more precise terms such as "they were overturned", "they were rescinded", or "they were annulled", depending on the specific type of legal action being described.