they were seated

USAGE SUMMARY

"they were seated" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to multiple people being seated, such as in the following example sentence: The guests had arrived, so the host signaled for them to take their seats and they were seated.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They were seated.

The New Yorker

They were seated at different tables.

The New York Times

At 9 05, they were seated.

The New York Times - Food

They were seated together before the National Day of Prayer.

The Washington Post

They were seated on a curb and handcuffed.

The Washington Post

And they were seated behind royals and heads of state.

The New York Times

Finally, they were seated, on stools at the chopping block.

The New Yorker

— Did they see us? Marit asked as they were seated.

The New Yorker

They were seated just across the room from the cardinal.

The Guardian

On arrival in the laboratory, they were seated in a waiting room.

Appetite

But if they were seated, they would have to have their belts buckled.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they were seated" when you want to emphasize the action being done to the group, such as when a host is seating guests at a restaurant or event.

Common error

Avoid using the passive voice "they were seated" when the active voice is more direct and clear. For example, instead of "They were seated by the hostess", use "The hostess seated them".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were seated" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that a group of people underwent the action of being seated. Ludwig examples showcase its use in various contexts, like restaurants or events, to describe how people were placed in their spots.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they were seated" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes the action of individuals being placed in seats, commonly found in News & Media and Science contexts. When writing, consider whether you intend to emphasize the action done to the group or if a more direct active voice construction like "they sat" would be more appropriate. Being mindful of this distinction will help you achieve clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they sat

Omits the passive voice construction while retaining the core meaning of being in a seated position.

they took their seats

Focuses on the action of assuming a seated position rather than the state of being seated.

they occupied seats

Stresses the act of taking up space in chairs.

they found their places

Implies a process of locating and occupying designated spots.

they were positioned

Broadens the meaning to include any arrangement or placement, not specifically seated.

they were placed

Highlights the action of being put in a specific location by someone or something.

they had seats

Emphasizes possession of seats rather than the action of sitting.

seats were arranged for them

Reverses the subject to focus on the provision of seating.

they were located

Indicates their whereabouts, without specifying the manner of placement.

they were stationed

Suggests being assigned to a particular spot, often in a more formal context.

FAQs

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

You can use "they were seated" to describe a group of people being guided to their seats. For example, "Once the guests arrived, "they were seated" at their assigned tables.".

What can I say instead of "they were seated"?

You can use alternatives like "they sat", "they took their seats", or "they were positioned" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "they sat" or "they were seated"?

Both "they sat" and "they were seated" are grammatically correct, but "they sat" is more direct and active. Use "they were seated" when you want to emphasize that someone else placed them there.

When should I use passive voice like "they were seated"?

Use the passive voice when the action is more important than the actor, or when the actor is unknown or irrelevant. For example, "They were seated according to their reservation preferences."