they were written

USAGE SUMMARY

'they were written' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a group of written documents or works, for example: The plays of Shakespeare were written over 400 years ago.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They were written on the walls.

The New York Times

Sometimes they were written by other composers.

The New York Times - Arts

"They were written for money".

The Guardian - Books

They were written by Brownstein.

The New Yorker

And they were written so slowly.

The Guardian - Music

Yes, mostly they were written, without alteration, in ten minutes.

The New Yorker

At the time, they were written off as duds.

The Guardian - Arts

They were written to provoke, not to soothe.

The New York Times - Arts

Unless, they were written by Ursula K Le Guin.

The Guardian - Books

Were any of them dreamed before they were written?

The Guardian - Books

"The stories were nostalgic when they were written," she said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "they were written", ensure the subject clearly refers to the written works being discussed to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "they were written" without a clear antecedent. Ensure the reader knows exactly what "they" refers to. For example, instead of "They were written in haste", specify, "The letters were written in haste".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were written" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject (they) received the action of being written. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use across various contexts, showing that something was created in written form by someone or something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they were written" is a grammatically sound and commonly used passive construction. According to Ludwig, it's frequently used in News & Media, Science, and Encyclopedias. The phrase serves to describe the creation of written materials and is generally neutral in tone. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying what "they" refers to. To enhance your writing, consider alternative phrases such as "they had been penned" or "they were authored" for more formal contexts. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness and usability of this phrase in various writing scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they had been penned

Emphasizes the act of writing with a slightly more formal tone.

they were authored

Highlights the role of the author in creating the written work.

they were composed

Suggests a careful and deliberate process of creating the written work.

they were drafted

Focuses on the initial creation or outlining of the written work.

they originated as written text

Emphasizes that the original form was written rather than, for example, spoken.

the documents were prepared

Focuses on the action of preparing the document

the texts were created

Highlights the act of creating or making the texts

their writing occurred

Focuses on the event of writing in a slightly more indirect manner

the words were inscribed

Suggests a more physical or permanent form of writing.

authorship was theirs

Indicates who was responsible for writing the work, shifting the focus to authorship.

FAQs

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

You can use "they were written" to describe when a set of documents, books, or articles were created. For example, "The letters "they were written" during the war offer a glimpse into the past."

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

For a more formal tone, you might use phrases like "they had been penned" or "they were authored" depending on the specific context.

How does the meaning change if I use "they were written" vs "they are written"?

"They were written" indicates that the writing occurred in the past, while "they are written" implies that the writing is ongoing or habitual. For example, "The instructions "they were written" last year" versus "The instructions "they are written" annually".

Is it correct to say "they was written"?

No, "they was written" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "they were written", using the plural form of the verb "to be" (were) to agree with the plural pronoun "they".