they were submitted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were submitted" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to documents, applications, or any items that have been formally handed in or presented for consideration. Example: "The reports were submitted to the committee for review last week."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They were submitted to some fairly brutal ostracism.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

They are reproduced here exactly as they were submitted to the judging panel.

The Guardian

In three cases, papers were accepted on the same day that they were submitted.

The Guardian

The bids were posted on Sotheby's Web site, www.sothebys.com, the moment they were submitted.

The New York Times

Comments are often not published in the order they were submitted.

The New York Times

The results of the study were never published, although the foundation says they were submitted to the F.D.A.

The New York Times

Here are the runners-up, in the order in which they were submitted: Samantha, 17, Beacon Falls, Conn.

The New York Times

But the detailed plans created by Lord Foster would not be available until they were submitted in a planning application in the autumn.

The Guardian

We got to the point where we would get the counter staff to sign our photocopies to prove they were submitted.

The Guardian - Opinion

Stephen Fischer, a spokesman, said shootings that had been ruled suicide by cop could be included in the FBI's count if they were submitted.

The Guardian

Holly Hotchner, the director of the museum, noted that the museum's plans had been approved by every city agency to which they were submitted.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the passive voice construction "they were submitted", ensure clarity about who or what performed the action of submitting. If the actor is important, consider rewriting in the active voice.

Common error

Avoid using "they were submitted" without clarifying what "they" refers to. Ensure the context makes the subject clear to prevent ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were submitted" functions as a passive construction, indicating that a subject (represented by "they") underwent the action of being submitted. Ludwig shows numerous examples in scientific and news contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

42%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they were submitted" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction. According to Ludwig, it's especially common in scientific and news contexts to indicate that something has been formally presented or handed in. When using this phrase, ensure the subject is clear to avoid ambiguity. Active voice alternatives might sometimes offer more directness. The Ludwig AI considers the phrase to be usable in written English and highlights its adaptability across diverse writing scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were handed in

Focuses on the act of physically giving something in.

they were turned in

An informal way of saying something was given to someone in authority.

they were presented

Emphasizes a more formal delivery or display.

they were filed

Implies placing documents in a specific order for record-keeping.

they were lodged

A formal term for officially presenting a claim or document.

they were tendered

Suggests offering something formally, like a bid or resignation.

they were subjected to

Shifts the focus to the experience or treatment received.

they underwent

Focuses on a process or procedure being experienced.

they were exposed to

Highlights the experience of being subjected to something potentially harmful.

they were referred

Indicates the act of directing or sending something to a specific entity.

FAQs

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

You can use "they were submitted" when referring to items or documents that have been formally handed in for consideration, like "The applications "they were submitted" before the deadline were reviewed".

What's a more formal alternative to "they were submitted"?

A more formal alternative is "they were presented", especially when referring to reports or proposals at a conference.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "they were submitted"?

While "they were submitted" (passive) is grammatically correct, using the active voice (e.g., "The team submitted the report") can make your writing more direct and clear.

What is the difference between "they were submitted" and "they were filed"?

"They were submitted" implies a handing-in process for review or approval. "They were filed" suggests the documents were placed in a specific order for record-keeping.