were acquired

USAGE SUMMARY

"were acquired" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are talking about something that was acquired in the past. For example: "The company's new assets were acquired last month."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Channels were acquired sequentially.

Nature

They were acquired by 1997.

Columbia University

Town privileges were acquired in 1248.

Encyclopedia Britannica

All were acquired in financially driven transactions.

The New York Times

Agencies were acquired and accounts were shifted.

The New York Times

Girlfriends and boyfriends were acquired and reacquired.

The New York Times

Both companies were acquired by Microsoft.

The New York Times

Others were acquired at auction decades ago.

The New York Times - Arts

"Confessions" were acquired through physical pressures.

The Guardian

Images were acquired every 5 min.

Nature

Images were acquired every 10 min.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were acquired", ensure the subject clearly indicates what was obtained and the context explains how the acquisition occurred. For example, "The data were acquired through a series of experiments."

Common error

Avoid using "were acquired" when the active voice is more appropriate and direct. For instance, instead of "The company's assets were acquired by another firm", consider "Another firm acquired the company's assets" for greater clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were acquired" functions as a passive voice construction of the verb "acquire". According to Ludwig, it signifies that something has been obtained or gained by a subject, but the subject performing the action is either unknown or less important than the object being acted upon. This structure is common in formal and scientific writing.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were acquired" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive voice construction, as confirmed by Ludwig. It serves to describe the process of obtaining something, often with emphasis on the outcome rather than the agent. Predominantly found in scientific, news, and academic contexts, this phrase maintains a neutral to formal tone. While generally correct, it's crucial to consider whether the active voice might provide greater clarity in specific sentences. By understanding these nuances, you can effectively employ "were acquired" in your writing to convey information with precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were obtained

Uses a different verb ("obtained") to convey a similar meaning of gaining possession.

were gained

Replaces "acquired" with "gained", focusing on the act of obtaining something, often with effort.

were attained

Employs "attained", suggesting a more deliberate or effortful acquisition.

were procured

Utilizes "procured", implying acquisition through specific effort or means.

were secured

Suggests that items "were secured" implying acquisition with intention of safety or preservation.

came into possession

Changes the structure to a more descriptive phrase emphasizing the state of ownership.

were received

Implies a passive reception of the items, rather than an active acquisition.

were achieved

Uses "achieved", suggesting a more deliberate or effortful acquisition, like "attained".

were collected

Implies a systematic or organized gathering of items.

were assumed

Changes the structure to a more descriptive phrase emphasizing the state of ownership, similar to "came into possession".

FAQs

How is "were acquired" used in a sentence?

The phrase "were acquired" indicates that something was obtained or gained. For instance, "The company's patents "were acquired" in a recent merger" shows that the patents became the property of the merged entity.

What are some alternatives to using "were acquired"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "were obtained", "were gained", or "came into possession" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "were acquired"?

While "were acquired" is grammatically correct in the passive voice, using the active voice can sometimes provide more clarity. For example, instead of "The funds "were acquired" through donations", you could say "The organization acquired the funds through donations".

What's the difference between "were acquired" and "were purchased"?

"Were acquired" is a broader term that encompasses any means of obtaining something, while "were purchased" specifically implies that something was obtained through a financial transaction. So, "were purchased" is only appropriate when money was exchanged.