they were sold

USAGE SUMMARY

"they were sold" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that has been purchased by a buyer. For example: "The paintings were so beautiful that they were sold within minutes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

After using the system, they were sold.

The New York Times

Perhaps they were sold out.

The Guardian - Travel

(They were sold at auction).

The New York Times - Sports

In fact they were sold to residents.

The Guardian

They were sold to Telecommunications, Inc. (NASD).

The New York Times

They were sold for $58 million.

The New York Times

They were sold under five separate licences.

The Guardian

They were sold at $10 apiece at retailers like Walmart.

The Economist

"I thought they were sold at auction," he said.

The New Yorker

I think they were sold a bill of goods".

The New York Times

When they were first mined they were sold for pennies.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "they were sold", ensure the context clearly identifies who or what 'they' refers to, preventing ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "they were sold" if the subject ('they') is not explicitly defined or easily understood from the preceding context. Rephrase to clarify what was sold.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were sold" functions as a passive construction, indicating that a group of items or entities underwent the action of being sold. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Academia

16%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they were sold" is a grammatically sound passive construction used to describe completed sales transactions, as affirmed by Ludwig. Appearing most frequently in news and media, it maintains a neutral register suitable for various communication contexts. When employing this phrase, ensure that the antecedent of 'they' is clear to avoid ambiguity. While variations such as "they were purchased" or "they were auctioned off" offer nuance, "they were sold" remains a versatile and common expression for conveying that items have been successfully sold.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were purchased

Focuses on the act of buying from the buyer's perspective, implying a transaction.

they were auctioned off

Specifies the sale method as an auction, indicating a competitive bidding process.

they were marketed

Highlights the process of promoting the items for sale, rather than the sale itself.

they were traded

Suggests an exchange or barter, potentially involving goods or services instead of money.

they were peddled

Implies selling, often door-to-door or in a less formal setting.

they were vended

More formal and technical term for selling.

they were exchanged

Focuses on the swap of something in return.

they found a buyer

Indicates that the subjects were able to be sold, or the sale was successful.

they were disposed of

Suggests that the items were gotten rid of, possibly through sale or other means.

they went on sale

Emphasis on when something is made available to be sold.

FAQs

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

Use "they were sold" to describe a past event where items or entities were transferred to buyers in exchange for payment. For example, "The tickets "they were sold" out in minutes".

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

You can use alternatives like "they were purchased", "they were auctioned off", or "they were traded" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "they are sold" instead of "they were sold"?

While "they are sold" is grammatically correct, it implies a current state or ongoing availability, whereas ""they were sold"" refers to a completed transaction in the past.

What's the difference between "they were sold" and "they sold"?

"They were sold" is in the passive voice, indicating that the items were the recipients of the action of selling. "They sold" is in the active voice, meaning 'they' performed the action of selling.