were advanced

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were advanced" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are describing something that has been improved or developed further in the past. Example: "The technologies were advanced significantly over the last decade, leading to more efficient processes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Type designs were advanced.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The girls were advanced.

The New York Times - Sports

American interests were advanced.

The New York Times

Talks were advanced, he added, without elaborating.

The New York Times

Several senior politicians were advanced boozers.

The Guardian

When Larsson wrote the novel, Powerbooks were advanced.

The New York Times - Books

The Thracians were advanced in metalworking and in horsemanship.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Bosch's social views were advanced for his time.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Similar ideas were advanced in simpler form more than a century ago.

The New York Times - Science

Many multimillion-euro loans were advanced on little or no collateral.

The Guardian - Business

A total of 15,600 landlord mortgages were advanced, worth £2.2bn.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that the context clearly indicates what "were advanced", specifying the subject and the area of improvement. For example, "Surgical techniques were advanced significantly over the last decade."

Common error

Avoid using "were advanced" when an active voice would be more direct and clear. For instance, instead of saying "Mistakes were advanced by him", use "He advanced mistakes."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were advanced" functions primarily as a passive verb construction, indicating that the subject of the sentence received the action of being moved forward, improved, or promoted. Ludwig's examples show diverse applications across various domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

32%

Encyclopedias

14%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were advanced" is a versatile passive verb construction used to describe progress, development, or promotion in the past. Ludwig's analysis indicates that it is grammatically correct and frequently employed across various reputable sources, particularly in news, science, and encyclopedic contexts. To enhance clarity, it is crucial to specify the subject and the area of improvement. While predominantly neutral to formal, ensure the voice aligns with the intended tone and audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were progressed

Emphasizes forward movement or development.

were improved

Emphasizes the enhancement or betterment aspect.

were furthered

Stresses the action of helping something progress.

were enhanced

Focuses on increasing the quality or value.

were promoted

Focuses specifically on advancement in rank or position.

were refined

Emphasizes the improvement through small changes.

were accelerated

Stresses the speeding up of progress or development.

were developed

Highlights the creation or evolution of something.

were modernized

Focuses on bringing something up to date.

were pioneered

Highlights the act of being the first to develop or use something.

FAQs

How can I use "were advanced" in a sentence?

Use "were advanced" to describe that something has been moved forward, improved or promoted. For example: "The technologies "were advanced" significantly over the last decade, leading to more efficient processes."

What are some alternatives to "were advanced"?

You can use alternatives like "were improved", "were developed", or "were promoted" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "were advanced" in active or passive voice?

While "were advanced" is already in the passive voice, consider whether rephrasing into active voice would improve clarity and directness. For instance, change from "Theories "were advanced" by scientists" to "Scientists advanced theories."

What's the difference between "were advanced" and "had been advanced"?

"Were advanced" indicates a simple past passive action, while "had been advanced" indicates a past perfect passive action, emphasizing that the action was completed before another point in the past. Example: "The project components "were advanced" last year" vs "The project components had been advanced before the deadline."