were authorized

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were authorized" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that permission or approval was granted in the past. Example: "The documents were authorized by the committee before being distributed to the members."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The technical scope, methods, and data collection were authorized to be determined by the author.

Geoenvironmental Disasters

Of these, 232 were authorized.

The New York Times

The Franciscans were authorized only to preach penance.

The New Yorker

Habitat conservation plans were authorized by Congress in 1982.

The New York Times

Both were authorized to sell mortgage loans as MBSs.

Britannica

Not even all employees were authorized to enter.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

This was as far as they were authorized to go.

The New York Times - Magazine

Judges in those days were authorized to carry a weapon.

The New York Times

The biosynthesized AgNPs were authorized by UV vis spectrophotometer with surface plasmon resonance at 430 nm.

Industrial Crops and Products

Theatre commanders were authorized to order bottling plants, much as they ordered ammunition.

The New Yorker

"The year 2000 was the highest since 1977," when 1,476 units were authorized, he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were authorized", ensure the subject clearly identifies who or what granted the authorization. This provides clarity and strengthens the sentence's meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "was authorized" when referring to a plural subject. "Was authorized" is for singular subjects, while "were authorized" is for plural subjects.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were authorized" functions as a passive voice construction indicating that a subject received permission or approval to perform a specific action. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms its common usage in conveying that someone or something was granted the power or right to do something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Academia

27%

Science

21%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were authorized" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to indicate that permission or approval was granted. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use across diverse contexts, including news, academia, and science. While generally neutral to professional in tone, it's crucial to ensure subject-verb agreement and clarity regarding the authorizing entity. Alternative phrases like "had permission" or "were permitted" can offer stylistic variations. By following best practices and avoiding common errors, writers can effectively employ "were authorized" to convey formal approvals and permissions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been permitted

Uses a passive construction similar to the original but highlights the allowance aspect.

received authorization

Focuses on the act of receiving the formal permission.

had permission

Emphasizes the granting of permission, focusing on the state of having the right to do something.

were cleared

Suggests that any obstacles or objections have been removed, allowing something to proceed.

were empowered

Focuses on the act of granting power or authority to someone.

were sanctioned

Implies a formal approval or endorsement, often by an official body.

were delegated the authority

Indicates that the power to act was specifically assigned or transferred.

were given the green light

An idiomatic expression indicating approval or clearance to proceed.

were validated

Highlights the confirmation of legitimacy or correctness, implying authorization through verification.

were given the power

Stresses that entities received the direct ability to do something.

FAQs

How do I use "were authorized" in a sentence?

Use "were authorized" to indicate that permission or approval was granted in the past. For example, "The documents "were authorized" by the committee before being distributed."

What are some alternatives to "were authorized"?

You can use alternatives such as "had permission", "were permitted", or "were empowered" depending on the context.

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

No, "was authorized" is for singular subjects, while ""were authorized"" is for plural subjects. Ensure subject-verb agreement in your sentences.

What's the difference between "were authorized" and "were allowed"?

"Were authorized" implies a formal granting of permission, often by an authority, while "were allowed" simply means that something was not prevented, implying a less formal permission.