were advised

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were advised" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone received guidance or recommendations in the past. Example: "The employees were advised to complete their training before the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We were advised to smoke Deities.

The New Yorker

Women were advised to leave the square.

The Economist

We were advised to move slowly.

The Guardian

They were advised to answer questions honestly.

The New Yorker

None were advised of their consular rights.

The New York Times

Journalists were advised against visiting Granai.

The New York Times

"Don't be afraid to disagree," the teammates were advised.

Stanford University

People with asthma were advised to keep their windows closed.

University of California, Berkeley

We were advised of one case by barristers yesterday morning.

The Guardian - Business

Muslim women in headscarves were advised to stay indoors.

The New York Times

When traveling abroad, religious lawmakers were advised, ditch the skullcap.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were advised", ensure the context clearly indicates who provided the advice. This adds clarity and strengthens the sentence.

Common error

Avoid using "were advised" without specifying who gave the advice. Vague statements like "They were advised" can leave readers wondering about the credibility and relevance of the information.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were advised" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject received advice from an unspecified agent. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. The examples illustrate how it's used to convey guidance received in various situations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were advised" is a grammatically correct and very common passive voice construction used to indicate that someone received guidance or instructions. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s widely used across various contexts, including news, academia, and science. When writing with "were advised", it's crucial to clearly indicate the source of advice to enhance clarity and credibility. While alternatives such as "were informed" or "received guidance" exist, "were advised" effectively conveys the notion of specific recommendations being given and received.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

received guidance

Emphasizes the act of obtaining direction or advice.

were given direction

Highlights the provision of a course of action to follow.

were informed

Focuses on the reception of information rather than specific advice.

were recommended

Focuses on suggestions made rather than direct instructions.

were counseled

Suggests a more formal or professional advisory setting.

were notified

A formal way to indicate that official notice was given.

were instructed

Implies a more direct and authoritative form of guidance.

were alerted

Emphasizes being warned or made aware of something important.

were told

A simpler and more general way of saying information was conveyed.

were schooled

Suggests some kind of learning.

FAQs

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

Use "were advised" to indicate that someone received guidance or a recommendation. For example, "The students "were advised" to study before the exam."

What are some alternatives to "were advised"?

You can use phrases like "were informed", "were told", or "received guidance" as alternatives to "were advised", depending on the specific context.

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

While both active and passive voices are grammatically correct, passive voice with "were advised" is useful when the source of advice is less important than the advice itself. Example: "The team "were advised" not to proceed."

What does "were advised" mean?

"Were advised" means that someone received a suggestion, recommendation, or piece of guidance about what to do. It indicates that advice was given and received in the past.