they were said

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "they were said" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it whenever you are referring to a statement that was made by someone (said) in the past. Example: "They were said to be the most intelligent students in the school."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They were said to be made from human skin.

The New Yorker

They were said to be peculiarly prone to violence.

The New York Times

"They were" said Sir Martin, "a pretty loony crew".

Independent

"We found that the more people had eaten, the less accurate they were," said Wansink.

Cornell University

They were said to have been refugees from Iran.

The New York Times

"And they were," said Smith, who still lives in Kabul.

The Guardian

They were said to have co- ordinated illegal abortion centres in several neighbourhoods.

The Guardian

They were said to think themselves married if they jumped three times over a broomstick.

The New Yorker

They were said to offer salaries that were exempt from taxes, or nearly so.

The New Yorker

They were said to include a former MP and a former cabinet minister.

Independent

"Nobody knew exactly who they were," said the former defense official.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "they were said" with a modal verb (e.g., "they were said to be") to express possibility, obligation, or ability attributed to the subject.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on "they were said" without providing context or justification. If possible, identify the source to enhance credibility and avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were said" functions as a passive construction used to report information or attribute statements to an unspecified source. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. It's frequently employed to introduce claims, beliefs, or rumors without explicitly naming who made them.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they were said" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to report information from an unspecified source. As Ludwig AI confirms, it serves to convey claims, beliefs, or rumors indirectly, often to maintain anonymity or to indicate general knowledge. The phrase is most frequently encountered in News & Media, where it conveys an informative or journalistic tone, and can also be found in Scientific and Encyclopedic contexts. While versatile, it's best practice to avoid overuse and strive to identify sources when possible to enhance credibility. Related alternatives such as "it was reported that" and "sources indicate that" offer subtle variations in meaning and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was reported that

Focuses on the act of reporting, emphasizing the information's provenance rather than the speakers.

it has been alleged that

Indicates a claim that has not been proven, suggesting a degree of skepticism or caution.

sources indicate that

Emphasizes the presence of multiple, often unnamed, sources providing information.

reports suggest that

Highlights the role of documented accounts or investigations in conveying information.

it is believed that

Conveys a sense of general opinion or widespread acceptance of an idea.

rumor has it that

Suggests that information is circulating informally and may not be reliable.

people claim that

Indicates that individuals are making assertions, potentially without substantiation.

it is understood that

Implies a tacit agreement or shared knowledge among a group.

the word is that

Denotes information passed through informal channels, like gossip or hearsay.

it's been whispered that

Highlights secretive or clandestine communication of information.

FAQs

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

You can use "they were said" to report information without specifying the source. For instance, "They were said to be the best team in the league" implies an unnamed source believes in the team's quality.

What are some alternatives to "they were said"?

Alternatives include "it was reported that", "sources indicate that", or "it is believed that", each carrying slightly different connotations regarding the source and reliability of the information.

Is "they were said" formal or informal?

"They were said" is generally considered neutral in formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though more formal writing may benefit from specifying the source of the information.

What's the difference between "they were said" and "they were told"?

"They were said" implies that something was stated about them, while "they were told" means someone directly communicated information to them. For example, "they were said to be talented" versus "they were told they were talented".