were amended by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were amended by" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in legal or formal contexts to indicate that a document or agreement has been modified by a specific party or authority. Example: "The terms of the contract were amended by mutual agreement of both parties."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

But if witness statements, made for use in court, were amended by someone else in a way that changed their meaning, those responsible could be charged with perverting the course of justice.

The Guardian

The ZnO-based thin films and NWs were amended by sol gel and hydrothermal routes.

Analytica Chimica Acta

These disturbed or missing intervals were amended by the corresponding undisturbed "patch" intervals indicated by pink lines.

Progress in Earth and Planetary Science

The drawbacks of both schemes were found and then were amended by adding a flue gas bypass to the boiler.

Energy

In 2009, these rules were amended by the Obama administration and the Democratic-controlled Congress to strengthen defendants' rights.

BBC

Plans for how the birth will be announced were amended by Kensington Palace officials on Monday evening.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

The SI was amended by subsequent convocations of the CGPM.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It may be amended by the panel after further deliberations.

The New York Times

Unlike the charter, the by-laws can be amended by the shareholders without board consent.

The New York Times

The law was amended by the Wholesome Meat Act of 1967.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The resulting legislation then has to be approved, but cannot be amended, by parliament.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were amended by", ensure that the context clearly identifies who or what performed the amending action to maintain clarity and accountability. For example: "The contract terms were amended by the legal team."

Common error

Avoid using "were amended by" without specifying the entity responsible for the amendment. Omitting this information can create ambiguity and obscure responsibility.

Linguistic Context

Were amended by functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that a subject has undergone modification performed by a specific agent. This is evident in Ludwig examples such as "Plans for how the birth will be announced "were amended by" Kensington Palace officials". Ludwig AI confirms this construction is grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

42%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were amended by" is a grammatically correct passive construction used to indicate that a subject has been formally modified by a specific agent. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's most commonly found in news and scientific contexts, reflecting its use in describing changes to official documents, regulations, or research findings. When using "were amended by", ensure clarity by specifying who or what performed the amending action. While alternatives like "were modified by" exist, "were amended by" carries a more formal and precise tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were modified by

Focuses on the alteration aspect but lacks the specific connotation of formal correction or improvement.

were revised by

Emphasizes a more thorough review and alteration, often implying improvement.

were altered by

A general term for making changes, without implying improvement or correction.

were changed by

Similar to altered, but more direct and less formal.

were adjusted by

Implies a slight modification to achieve a better fit or result.

were corrected by

Specifically indicates the fixing of errors or inaccuracies.

were updated by

Indicates that something has been made more current or modern.

were influenced by

Suggests a less direct form of modification, where something is affected by an external force.

were reworked by

Implies a more significant and extensive revision.

were refined by

Suggests a subtle improvement to make something more precise or elegant.

FAQs

How is "were amended by" typically used in a sentence?

The phrase "were amended by" indicates that changes have been made to something by a specific agent. For example, "The regulations "were amended by" the governing body to reflect current standards."

What are some alternatives to "were amended by"?

Alternatives include phrases like "were modified by", "were revised by", or "were altered by", each carrying slightly different connotations of the type and extent of the change.

When is it appropriate to use "were amended by" instead of "were changed by"?

"Were amended by" often implies a more formal or official change, typically to correct, improve, or update something. "Were changed by" is a more general term, suitable for any kind of alteration, regardless of its intent or formality. Therefore, use "were amended by" when the change is purposeful and aims to improve something like a document or law.

Is it grammatically correct to say "were amended by" in the active voice?

No, the phrase "were amended by" is inherently passive. The active voice equivalent would be something like "[Agent] amended [thing]", for instance, "The committee amended the proposal".