were asked for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were asked for" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to describe a situation in which someone requested or demanded something from someone else. Example: During the meeting, the attendees were asked for their opinions on the new company policy.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Passwords and email addresses were asked for.

The Guardian

Five were asked for more detailed presentations.

The New York Times

Students were asked for their feedback of the VALTs.

Nurse Education in Practice

After the presentation, the doctors were asked for their opinions.

The New York Times

Instead they were asked for their views on Brexit.

The Guardian - Opinion

Entrants were asked for three images and 500 words.

The New York Times - Magazine

Additionally, they were asked for feedback on the brand itself.

The New York Times

For melody, parents were asked for a favorite song.

The New York Times - Health

By no means are these all that were asked for.

The New Yorker

In the survey 54 Italian SME's were asked for their opinion.

Procedia CIRP

For each case presentation, the gynaecologists were asked for their inclination to perform laparoscopy.

European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were asked for" when indicating that information, opinions, or items were requested from a group or individual in a passive construction. It is most effective when the emphasis is on what was requested rather than who made the request.

Common error

Avoid using "were asked for" when an active voice construction is more appropriate. For example, instead of "Details were asked for by the interviewer", consider "The interviewer asked for details" if the focus is on the interviewer.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were asked for" functions as a passive construction, indicating that someone or something was the recipient of a request. It is frequently used to describe situations where information, consent, or specific items were solicited from individuals or groups, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were asked for" is a common and grammatically correct passive construction used to indicate that a request was made. As Ludwig AI indicates, its usage spans across various contexts, including scientific, news, and formal communications. While versatile, it's important to use it appropriately, keeping in mind that active voice might be preferable in some cases. The most frequent sources where this expression occurs are The New York Times, The Guardian and BBC.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were requested

Emphasizes the act of formally requesting something.

had been asked for

Uses the past perfect tense to indicate the request happened before a certain time.

were prompted for

Suggests that an action or cue led to the request.

were solicited for

Highlights the active seeking of something from someone.

were invited to provide

Focuses on an invitation to offer something.

were called upon for

Implies a sense of duty or obligation in the request.

were consulted for

Focuses on seeking advice or expertise.

were canvassed for

Suggests a thorough or systematic approach to gathering information.

were subject to a request for

Formal way to phrase a demand.

were on the receiving end of a request for

Implies that the request was unexpected or unwanted.

FAQs

How can I use "were asked for" in a sentence?

The phrase "were asked for" indicates that someone requested something from someone else. For example, "Participants "were asked for consent" before the study began."

What is a more formal alternative to "were asked for"?

A more formal alternative to "were asked for" is "were requested". For example, "Documents "were requested" by the committee prior to the hearing."

Is it correct to use "were asked for" in the active voice?

"Were asked for" is inherently passive. To use an active voice, rephrase the sentence. Instead of "Details were asked for", say "The investigator asked for details."

What's the difference between "were asked for" and "were required"?

"Were asked for" implies a request, while "were required" implies a mandatory demand. For instance, "Opinions "were asked for" during the survey", but "Identification "were required" to enter the building."