verbally instructed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "verbally instructed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to instructions that were given through spoken communication rather than written form. Example: "The team was verbally instructed to complete the project by the end of the week."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

The parents were given an instruction sheet and verbally instructed by the physician to administer a dose of 30 mg/kg liquid acetaminophen 4 hours after the procedure if they subjectively felt that the infant displayed any signs they perceive as pain.

BMC Pediatrics

Newspapers have been seized, editors verbally instructed by police officials not to print, TV channels, except of course the government-run ones, have been blocked.

The Guardian - Opinion

The subjects were not told about the nature of the experiment, but were verbally instructed on the F3 approach and its tool.

Journal of Software Engineering Research and Development

In the MRI experiment, participants performed five blocks using each auditory stimulus tapping rate combination for a total of 20 sensory-motor tasks that were interspersed (see below) with no-movement runs; the no-movement runs were verbally instructed by the command "no movement" (see Fig. 1B).

Plosone

They were verbally instructed on the task rules with the aid of a cartoon.

Experimental Psychology

All subjects will be verbally instructed on how to use the accelerometer.

BMC Public Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

The first section ends with a brief solo for Ms. Costello; after a blackout, the second section has Ms. Dignan and Ms. Vitrano verbally instructing the other two, offering contradictory choreographic suggestions in increasingly hostile tones.

The New York Times - Arts

You can verbally instruct it to take control of internet-controlled smart devices - telling it to turn lights, music and heating on or off - use it as a teaching aid for your children, or take advantage of its health check software to help care for elderly relations.

BBC

It has been shown that verbally instructing someone about the association between stimuli and events can produce similar effects than personally experiencing or observing such associations [34].

Plosone

The parent(or older sister) can then verbally instruct them step by step on how to fold and pin the diapers on.

WikiHow

Demonstrate, rather than verbally instruct.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "verbally instructed", ensure the context clarifies who provided the instructions and what the instructions entailed. This enhances clarity and prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "verbally instructed" excessively in the passive voice without specifying the actor. Instead of saying "The participants were verbally instructed", specify who did the instructing: "The researcher verbally instructed the participants."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "verbally instructed" functions as a verb phrase, specifically a passive construction indicating that someone received instructions through spoken communication. This is supported by Ludwig's examples where participants, children, or subjects are described as receiving instructions.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "verbally instructed" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb phrase that denotes the delivery of instructions through spoken communication. As noted by Ludwig, it is considered correct and applicable in various writing scenarios. It appears most often in scientific contexts, but is also present in news media. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying who gave the instructions. Alternatives include "gave verbal instructions", "provided spoken directions", and "told verbally". Despite its correctness, writers should avoid overuse in passive voice, instead of simply saying "The participants were verbally instructed", they specify who did the instructing: "The researcher verbally instructed the participants".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gave verbal instructions

Focuses on the action of giving instructions orally.

provided spoken directions

Emphasizes the provision of directions through speech.

told verbally

A simpler and more direct way of saying someone was informed through speech.

gave oral guidance

Highlights the guidance aspect of the instruction, delivered orally.

communicated instructions orally

Focuses on the communication method being oral.

orally directed

A more concise way of indicating oral direction.

gave spoken commands

Implies a more authoritative form of verbal instruction.

verbally directed and guided

Reinforces the instruction by adding the guidance component.

received vocal instructions

Focuses on the receiver's perspective of hearing instructions.

were given spoken advice

Emphasizes the advice aspect of the oral communication.

FAQs

How can I use "verbally instructed" in a sentence?

You can use "verbally instructed" to describe a situation where someone is given instructions through speech, for example: "The students were "verbally instructed" to complete the assignment by Friday".

What's a more formal way to say "verbally instructed"?

A more formal alternative to "verbally instructed" would be "provided oral guidance" or "communicated instructions orally". These options emphasize the professional or official nature of the instruction.

What can I say instead of "verbally instructed"?

You can use alternatives like "gave verbal instructions", "provided spoken directions", or "told verbally" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "verbally instructed" and "written instructions"?

"Verbally instructed" means instructions were given through spoken words, while "written instructions" means instructions were provided in written form. The method of delivery is the key difference.