visits were made

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "visits were made" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that visits occurred, often in a formal or report-like context. Example: "During the investigation, several visits were made to the site to gather evidence."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Visits were made so difficult, he stopped going, to save disappointment.

Independent

In the event, his first five visits were made on less controversial dates.

The Economist

They were told to remain in therapy, and follow-up visits were made by the program's staff.

The New York Times

Last year, more than 1.4m visits were made to our venues and we worked with more than 1,200 volunteers.

The Guardian

In the case of pin-site infection or drainage, extra visits were made if needed.

Strategies in Trauma and Limb Reconstruction

All told, according to Feuer, 4 million visits were made to the site in November.

Forbes

Monthly visits were made to 37 commercial dairy farms to collect herd- and cow-level data and milk samples.

Journal of Dairy Science

Follow-up visits were made every week during the first month after the injection, and once per month thereafter.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

One-third of those visits were made by Medicaid patients across the state.

Huffington Post

In 2007, over 530,000 visits were made to the sites.

Wikipedia

These 489 follow-up visits were made by 204 women on placebo.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "visits were made" when you want to emphasize the action of visiting rather than who performed the visits. For instance, in reports or summaries where the focus is on the visits themselves.

Common error

Avoid unnecessarily replacing the passive construction "visits were made" with an active voice construction if the actor is unknown or unimportant. The passive voice is suitable when the focus is on the action itself, not the performer.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "visits were made" primarily functions as a passive voice construction. It indicates that the action of visiting occurred, with the subject receiving the action. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

17%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "visits were made" is a grammatically correct and very common passive voice construction used to indicate that visits occurred. According to Ludwig AI, it is perfectly usable in written English, particularly in formal or report-like contexts. It is most frequently found in scientific, news, and formal/business writing. When choosing an alternative, consider options like "visits took place" or "visits occurred" for a more direct tone. The key is to maintain consistency with the desired level of formality and emphasis in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

visits took place

This alternative is a more direct way of stating that visits occurred, emphasizing the action of taking place.

visits occurred

This alternative is a simpler and more general way of stating that visits happened.

site visits were conducted

This is a more formal and specific way to state that visits were performed at a particular location for a specific purpose.

appointments were scheduled

This alternative implies that visits were pre-arranged, typically in a professional or medical context.

tours were conducted

Similar to 'site visits were conducted' but more general, and appropriate when the visit involves a guided exploration.

meetings were held

This suggests a more formal gathering, shifting the focus from the act of visiting to the event itself.

inspections were carried out

This implies a formal examination or assessment, often in a regulatory or investigative context.

rounds were made

This is used when someone (like a doctor) is doing a tour to see patients. For example "Doctor rounds were made this morning".

trips were taken

This focuses on the act of traveling to a place, rather than the visit itself.

calls were conducted

This alternative uses 'calls' instead of 'visits', implying a telephone conversation or a short visit.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "visits were made" to sound more active?

You can use phrases like "staff visited", "researchers conducted visits", or "patients attended appointments" depending on the context. These alternatives place emphasis on the actor performing the visit.

Is it better to say "visits were made" or "visits took place"?

Both are grammatically correct and often interchangeable. "Visits were made" is more formal, while "visits took place" is slightly more direct and neutral.

When is it appropriate to use the passive voice "visits were made"?

Use the passive voice when the actor is unknown, unimportant, or when you want to emphasize the action itself. For example, "Several visits were made to the site to assess the damage."

What are some alternatives to "visits were made" in a formal context?

In formal writing, consider using phrases like "site visits were conducted", "inspections were carried out", or "consultations were held" to maintain a professional tone.