they were suggested

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were suggested" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to ideas, actions, or items that were proposed or recommended by someone. Example: "The new policies they were suggested will help improve workplace efficiency."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

LOOKING back at my favorite vacation spots, several have one vital thing in common: they were suggested by friends.

The New York Times - Travel

France did not propose either, since it would mean the abolition of the Common Market, but if they were suggested, she was prepared to examine them within the context of the Rome Treaty.

The Guardian

But the flurry of reports about the visitors, whoever they were, suggested a sense of worry about the likelihood of Taliban sympathizers taking action in Britain, where militants have staged attacks in the past.

The New York Times

Though these were distinct from African lineages, they were suggested to be conserved across Asia.

Rice

They were suggested to transform into mucinous colloid-type carcinomas through the intestinal pathway of carcinogenesis [4].

Surgical Case Reports

They were suggested to weaken the hydrophobic interaction and increased the stability of laccase in aqueous solutions (Kovrigin and Potekhin, 2000).

AMB Express

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

"They must have realised that the minimum price they were suggesting would have hardly any effect.

The Guardian

"Yet they were suggesting a few ladies in a church hall would be enough protection for me and my child".

The Guardian

Red crosses and highlighted markings indicated what deletions they were suggesting would comply, perversely, with the freedom of information rulings.

The Guardian

'His family was not worried and they were not pressurizing us, but they were suggesting many things including special prayers.

BMC Nursing

They are suggested to exhibit pronounced size quantization effects due to the large excitonic radii.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "they were suggested", ensure the context clearly indicates who made the suggestions, even if the exact individuals are not named. This adds clarity and strengthens the impact of the statement.

Common error

Avoid using "they were suggested" in situations where the suggestion's origin is completely obscure or irrelevant. If possible, rephrase to indicate the source or reason for the suggestion to make the sentence more informative.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were suggested" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that someone proposed or put forward certain ideas or actions. As Ludwig AI shows, this phrase is frequently used to present information where the source of the suggestion is known but not the focus of the sentence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

32%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they were suggested" is a versatile and grammatically sound construction used to present proposed ideas or actions. According to Ludwig AI, it is most common in scientific and news-related contexts, though its usage extends to various forms of writing. When using this phrase, ensure the source of the suggestions is clear or implied to maintain clarity. Related phrases such as "it was proposed that they" or "they were offered as suggestions" can provide alternative phrasing options. Overall, "they were suggested" is a useful and effective way to present suggestions in a variety of contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were offered as suggestions

Explicitly states that something was presented in the form of suggestions.

suggestions were made that they

Rephrases to emphasize the suggestions themselves rather than the act of suggesting.

it was proposed that they

Emphasizes the act of proposing, shifting focus to the proposal itself.

it has been suggested that they

Shifts the emphasis to a past suggestion with ongoing relevance.

it was recommended that they

Highlights the recommendation aspect, suggesting a degree of endorsement or suitability.

it was advised that they

Implies guidance or counsel given regarding a specific course of action.

they were put forward

Indicates that suggestions were submitted for consideration or approval.

they were mooted

Suggests the ideas were raised or discussed, but not necessarily adopted.

they were floated

Implies the ideas were tentatively introduced to gauge reaction or feasibility.

they were hypothesized

Implies a more formal, scientific proposing, focusing on theoretical possibilities.

FAQs

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

You can use "they were suggested" to indicate that certain ideas, actions, or items were proposed by someone. For example: "The changes "they were suggested" aim to improve efficiency."

What's a more direct alternative to "they were suggested"?

If you want to be more direct and active, you could rephrase to indicate who made the suggestion. For example, instead of ""they were suggested"", you could say "the team suggested them" or "the experts proposed them".

Is it always necessary to specify who suggested something when using "they were suggested"?

No, it's not always necessary, especially when the source is obvious or unimportant. However, adding the source can often improve clarity and credibility. For example, compare ""they were suggested"" to "the consultants suggested them".

What is the difference between "they were suggested" and "they were recommended"?

While both phrases imply that something was put forward, ""they were suggested"" simply means proposed, whereas "they were recommended" implies that they were endorsed or considered suitable.