things were sent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "things were sent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that items or messages have been dispatched or delivered in the past. Example: "After the meeting, I confirmed that all the necessary documents and things were sent to the clients."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"A lot of things were sent to C.B.O.," Mr. Kyl said.

The New York Times

"A lot of things were sent to C.B.O.," Mr. Kyl said, a reference to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, which is supposed to analyze any package by Monday.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"These things are sent to test us.

Independent

"We get a lot of odd things being sent to the celebrities we guard," said Mr. Mackin.

The New York Times

Payne said: "Last year [the Olympics] certainly was a challenge but I think all these things are sent to challenge us.

BBC

"These things are sent to try us and I have no doubt this will make her a tougher character and a better footballer".

BBC

Some things are sent from no one to no one, or hoarded somewhere never to be seen.

TechCrunch

"The actual shares increasing, the actual shares going up when things are sent in messages -- that is standard behavior and you can find that in our documentation".

Huffington Post

No one wants to come and retrieve them afterwards, so most of these things are sent away to charity after three months.

Vice

I imagined crate-loads of these things being sent to the Catholic Church and out on to the streets of Egypt, single-handedly tackling the huge problem the libido presents to Middle Eastern culture.

Vice

So … I've got patients that you know don't want to take sometimes the medication they're prescribed because they want to use herbal stuff, and sometimes things are sent over from for example Africa.

Disability and Rehabilitation

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the formality of your writing. "Things were sent" is generally acceptable, but more formal alternatives like "items were dispatched" might be preferable in certain contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "things were sent" without specifying what "things" refers to. This can lead to confusion and weaken your writing. Always aim for clarity by naming the specific items or messages.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "things were sent" acts as a passive construction indicating that certain items or messages were dispatched or delivered. It focuses on the items that underwent the action of being sent. As Ludwig AI suggests, it’s grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "things were sent" is a grammatically sound and fairly common expression used to convey that certain items or messages have been dispatched or delivered. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s suitable for general use but benefits from context to clarify what "things" refers to. Predominantly found in news and media sources, the expression serves to inform, update, or confirm that items have been sent. When using "things were sent", aim to provide specific context or consider alternative phrases such as "items were dispatched" or "deliveries were made" for enhanced clarity and formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

items were dispatched

Replaces "things" with a more formal term, "items", and "sent" with "dispatched", indicating a formal sending process.

goods were shipped

Substitutes "things" with "goods", implying merchandise, and "sent" with "shipped", focusing on transportation.

materials were forwarded

Replaces "things" with "materials", suggesting specific items, and "sent" with "forwarded", emphasizing a direction or destination.

messages were transmitted

Specifies "messages" instead of general "things", and uses "transmitted" for a more technical connotation of sending.

deliveries were made

Focuses on the action of delivering rather than sending, changing the verb and implying a completed delivery.

consignments were directed

Uses a more formal and business-oriented vocabulary, referring to "consignments" and "directed".

packages were mailed

Replaces "things" with "packages", specifying the form, and "sent" with "mailed", specifying the method of sending.

communications were issued

Refers specifically to "communications", such as official statements or notices, using "issued" to indicate their formal release.

data was transferred

Replaces "things" with "data", referring to digital information, and uses "transferred" to focus on the movement of the data.

correspondence was dispatched

Employs formal language, substituting "things" with "correspondence", implying written communication, and "sent" with "dispatched".

FAQs

What does "things were sent" mean?

The phrase "things were sent" indicates that certain items or messages have been dispatched or delivered to a recipient in the past. It's a general way of saying that something has been transmitted from one place to another.

What can I say instead of "things were sent"?

You can use alternatives like "items were dispatched", "goods were shipped", or "deliveries were made" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "things were sent"?

Yes, it's grammatically correct. However, make sure that the context makes it clear what "things" refers to. If the meaning is unclear, consider specifying the items that were sent.

How do I use "things were sent" in a sentence?

You can use it in sentences like, "After the meeting, I confirmed that all the necessary documents and "things were sent" to the clients", or ""Things were sent" out for approval last week".