they were sampled

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were sampled" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where a group of individuals or items has been selected for analysis or study. Example: "In the research study, they were sampled to assess their responses to the new treatment."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They were sampled at 10 kHz and low-pass filtered at 2 kHz.

Nature

In different places they look as if they were sampled from paintings by Thomas Cole, Frederic Edwin Church and Martin Johnson Heade.

The New York Times

In places they look as if they were sampled from paintings by Thomas Cole, Frederic Church and Martin Johnson Heade, but they are not postmodernist jokes.

The New York Times

The concept isn't new, and has been executed dozens of times before: string together records that are known to the public (in shorter, looped form) because they were sampled years ago by hip-hop producers.

The New Yorker

They were sampled by Kanye West (whose forthcoming album they've worked on), celebrated as the gold standard of hipster cred in LCD Soundsystem's "Daft Punk is Playing at My House" and energetically homaged by younger artists, such as Justice.

The Guardian - Music

They were sampled in 0.5L bottles and preserved with a few drops of a HgCl2 solution.

Heritage Science

However, the beach samples may not be representative, as they were sampled after the tsunami.

Earth, Planets and Space

They were sampled and described by Prof. Shimizu and Dr. Matsushima of Kyushu University.

Earth, Planets and Space

Each time signal gathered consisted of 8192 points and they were sampled until 1000 Hz.

Applied Adhesion Science

They were sampled from Hexi painting decorated on the horizontally aligned wooden beams underneath the outside eaves of Tianwang Dian.

Heritage Science

The length of each audio signal is between 10 to 20 s, and they were sampled at 32 kHz.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a research methodology, be specific about the criteria used for sampling to ensure transparency and reproducibility.

Common error

Do not use the phrase "they were sampled" without specifying the sampling method or the population from which they were drawn. Providing this context is essential for clarity and validity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were sampled" functions as a passive construction, indicating that a group or set of items underwent a process of selection or extraction. This is supported by examples from Ludwig, where the phrase is used to describe how data or individuals were chosen for further analysis.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

88%

News & Media

10%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they were sampled" is a common and grammatically correct passive construction, predominantly used in scientific and research contexts to describe the selection of subjects or data. According to Ludwig, it indicates a clear methodological step in a research or investigative process. While the phrase is generally formal, several alternatives exist, such as "they were selected" or "they were chosen", which can be used depending on the specific nuance desired. Ensure you provide specific details about the sampling method to maintain clarity and rigor in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were selected

Focuses on the act of choosing them from a larger group.

they were chosen

Similar to 'selected', emphasizing a deliberate decision.

they were extracted

Highlights the removal or separation of them from a source.

they were taken

A more general term for acquiring or obtaining them.

they were collected

Implies a gathering of them from different locations or sources.

they were obtained

Focuses on the process of acquiring them, often through effort.

they were examined

Shifts the focus to the analysis or investigation of them.

they were analyzed

Specifically refers to the process of studying or evaluating them.

samples were obtained from them

Rephrases the sentence to emphasize the act of obtaining samples rather than directly sampling the subjects.

data was gathered from them

Implies the collection of information or data points from the subjects.

FAQs

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

You can use "they were sampled" when referring to a group that has been selected for analysis or study, such as in scientific research. For example, "The participants in the study said "they were sampled" randomly from the population".

What is a good alternative to "they were sampled"?

Depending on the context, suitable alternatives to "they were sampled" include phrases like "they were selected", "they were chosen", or "they were extracted".

Is it more appropriate to say "they were sampled" or "samples were taken from them"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "they were sampled" is more direct when the individuals themselves are the focus of the sampling process. "Samples were taken from them" emphasizes the collection of samples, such as blood or tissue, from a group.

In what contexts is "they were sampled" most commonly used?

The phrase "they were sampled" is frequently used in scientific and research contexts to describe the selection of subjects or data points for study. It's also used in news and media when reporting on studies or surveys.