were accessible to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were accessible to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was available or reachable by someone or a group in the past. Example: "The resources were accessible to all students, allowing them to enhance their learning experience."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

No one looked to see if the shelters were accessible to the elderly and disabled.

The New York Times

Experts say those statistics could improve if more of the devices were accessible to more people.

The New York Times - Health

Levine captured the ways "ordinary people are extraordinary", while writing poems that were accessible to readers, Hirsch said.

The Guardian - Books

Although many of the libraries in antiquity were accessible to the literate public, this was almost certainly for reference only.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"I liked the idea that you could make images that were accessible to" — and replicable by — "anyone".

The New York Times

"I know some of the reasons for it, but it wouldn't be so immediate and uncontrollable if it were accessible to reason.

The New Yorker

The British mobile operator O2 misconfigured its cellphone photo service so that its customer's private images were accessible to anyone using Google.

The New York Times - Tech

"Michael knew that I had the same interest he did, which was to create great spaces for art that were accessible to the public," Riggio says.

The New York Times - Magazine

She said that Boston and Toronto had fleets of such cabs but that only two of New York City's 50,000 cabs were accessible to wheelchair users.

The New York Times

They were accessible to most, but really wearable only by the few who were so rich that they could afford to have bad taste.

The New York Times

Cotton from India and silks from East Asia were accessible to the wealthy, enriched by high-quality embroidered edging and fringing.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing resources or services, use "were accessible to" to emphasize availability and ease of use for a specific group. For example, "The library's online resources were accessible to all registered students."

Common error

Avoid using "were accessible to" when describing inherent qualities or characteristics. Instead, use it to describe the relationship between a resource and its users. It's more fitting to say "The content was understandable to beginners" rather than "The content were accessible to beginners" if the intent is to convey comprehensibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were accessible to" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to describe its availability or reachability to a specific group or entity. This aligns with Ludwig AI's assessment of the phrase as correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

49%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were accessible to" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote availability and ease of access. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for use across various contexts, from scientific research to news reporting. While versatile, ensure that it accurately reflects the relationship between a resource and its users. Consider alternatives like "were available to" or "were open to" for nuanced meanings. Its prevalence across diverse sources underscores its widespread acceptance and utility in English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were available to

This alternative directly replaces "accessible" with "available", maintaining a high degree of semantic similarity.

were open to

This option suggests that something was not restricted and anyone could use or participate in it.

were within reach of

This phrase implies that something could be easily attained or accessed.

could be accessed by

This alternative changes the sentence structure to emphasize the ability to access something.

were obtainable by

This suggests that something could be obtained or acquired by someone.

were attainable for

This phrase focuses on the possibility of achieving or reaching something.

were at the disposal of

This indicates that something was available for use as needed.

were in the grasp of

This alternative uses a more metaphorical expression indicating that something was within someone's power or ability to use.

were subject to

This indicates that something was under the authority or control of someone.

were liable to

This implies a legal aspect, suggesting responsibility or obligation.

FAQs

How can I use "were accessible to" in a sentence?

Use "were accessible to" to indicate that something was available or reachable by someone or a group in the past. For example, "The documents "were accessible to" all team members after the update".

What are some alternatives to "were accessible to"?

Alternatives include "were available to", "were open to", or "were within reach of" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "was accessible to" instead of "were accessible to"?

Use "was accessible to" for singular subjects and "were accessible to" for plural subjects. For example, "The information was accessible to him", but "The files "were accessible to" them".

What's the difference between "were accessible to" and "could access"?

"Were accessible to" describes the state of being available, while "could access" describes the ability to gain entry or use. For example, "The building "was accessible to" wheelchair users", meaning it had the necessary features, whereas "They could access the data" means they had the permission or ability to see it.