were appointed to

USAGE SUMMARY

'were appointed to' is correct and usable in written English! You can use it when you are talking about someone being given an official role or responsibility.
An example sentence would be: "The five new board members were appointed to their positions at the company meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

All were appointed to the federal bench by President Reagan.

The New York Times

Members of the local nobility were appointed to high offices.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Two experts from construction contracting were appointed to approve the questionnaire design and verify the research outcomes.

International Journal of Project Management

Hmmm…I see you were appointed to Obama's Cultural Advisory Committee -No bias here!

University of California, Berkeley

Muneer Ahmad, James Forman Jr., and Samuel Moyn were were appointed to endowed professorships.

Yale University

Judge Pooler and Judge Parker were appointed to the federal bench by President Bill Clinton.

The New York Times

Following the death of the Prophet Muhammad, caliphs were appointed to the leadership of the Muslims.

The Guardian

(They were appointed to the Whips Office yesterday, in a sign of greater things to come).

The Guardian

Commissions were appointed to study law reform and the question of tithes.

Britannica

Hopes moved to resting on which Labour heavyweights were appointed to several key jobs in Europe.

The Guardian

All were appointed to the panel by Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist of the Supreme Court.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were appointed to" to clearly indicate that someone has been officially assigned a role or responsibility. This phrase is suitable for formal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "was appointed to" when referring to multiple individuals. Ensure subject-verb agreement by using "were" for plural subjects and "was" for singular subjects.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were appointed to" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that individuals received an official role or responsibility. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Encyclopedias

17%

Science

17%

Less common in

Academia

9%

Wiki

9%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were appointed to" is a common and grammatically sound verb phrase used to indicate the official assignment of roles or responsibilities to multiple individuals. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. Predominantly found in news, encyclopedias, and scientific contexts, the phrase carries a neutral to formal tone. When writing, remember subject-verb agreement. Alternatives like "were assigned to" or "were selected for" can be used depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were designated for

Focuses more on purpose or intended use, shifting the emphasis from the act of appointment to the reason for the designation.

were assigned to

Implies a more direct allocation of tasks or duties, differing from a formal appointment.

were selected for

Highlights the choice or selection process, rather than just the act of being assigned.

were chosen to

Similar to 'were selected for' but may imply a more deliberate or careful decision.

were named to

Emphasizes the public announcement or formal declaration of the appointment.

were delegated to

Suggests that authority or responsibility was passed down from a higher position.

were commissioned to

Implies a formal authorization or mandate to perform a specific task or project.

were entrusted with

Highlights the element of trust and confidence placed in the individuals.

were tasked with

Specifically emphasizes the assignment of tasks or responsibilities.

were ordained to

Carries a religious connotation, signifying appointment to a religious office or duty.

FAQs

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

Use "were appointed to" to indicate that multiple people have received an official role or duty. For example, "The new committee members "were appointed to" oversee the project." Remember to use "was appointed to" for a single person.

What are some alternatives to "were appointed to"?

Alternatives include "were selected for", "were assigned to", or "were chosen to", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

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

The correct form depends on the subject. Use "was appointed to" for a singular subject and ""were appointed to"" for a plural subject. For example, "She was appointed to the position" versus "They "were appointed to" the committee".

What's the difference between "were appointed to" and "were elected to"?

"Were appointed to" implies that individuals were assigned or designated to a position, often by an authority. "Were elected to", on the other hand, indicates that individuals gained a position through a voting process.