were being collected

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were being collected" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an ongoing action in the past where items or data were in the process of being gathered. Example: "The samples were being collected throughout the day for analysis in the laboratory."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

No taxes were being collected, and consequently the number of small businesses exploded.

The New York Times - Books

Over four years, they first expanded the amount of data that were being collected.

Harvard Business Review

Animals were given a 3-h stabilization period, before baseline samples were being collected (four samples).

Nature

"It is my understanding that President Obama was not aware Chancellor Merkel's communications were being collected since 2002," Feinstein said.

The Guardian

Indeed, it is clear from the speed of the submission that names were being collected well before the referendum.

The Guardian - Opinion

On the testing day, animals were given a 3-h stabilization period, before baseline samples were being collected (four samples).

Nature

The samples were being collected by historic preservation students in a class in historic paint analysis led by Prof. Hector Abreu-Cintron.

The New York Times

In those early years, one could read that 2,000, 8,000, 10,000, slugs a day were being collected from turnstiles.

The New York Times

Mr. Kohl said the contributions, which cannot be claimed as tax write-offs, were being collected in account number 1216175 of a Commerzbank branch in Essen.

The New York Times

"It is my understanding that President Obama was not aware Chancellor Merkel's communications were being collected since 2002," she said.

The New York Times

By 2005, Georgia's budget had tripled — largely because taxes, though lower, were being collected — and its G.D.P. was growing by ten per cent each year.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a process where data, samples, or objects are gathered over time, use "were being collected" to emphasize the ongoing nature of the action.

Common error

Avoid using "were being collected" when the action is completed. Use "were collected" instead. For example: "The data were collected yesterday", not "The data were being collected yesterday".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were being collected" functions as a verb phrase in the passive voice, indicating an action that was in progress in the past. As supported by Ludwig, this construction is commonly used to describe an ongoing process where items or data were being gathered.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

41%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were being collected" is a grammatically correct and frequently used verb phrase in the passive voice, indicating an action of gathering that was in progress in the past. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is commonly found in scientific and news contexts, with a neutral register, making it suitable for various writing styles. When using this phrase, it's essential to ensure the subject is plural and to emphasize the ongoing nature of the action, avoiding its use when the collection is already completed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were in the process of being gathered

This alternative emphasizes the ongoing nature of the gathering process, adding a more descriptive element.

were undergoing collection

This alternative stresses that the collection process was happening.

were actively gathered

This alternative emphasizes the active nature of the gathering.

were under collection

This is another way to say they were subject to the process of collection.

were in collection

This is a more concise way to express the idea, focusing on the state of being collected.

were currently accumulating

This alternative highlights that the items were in the process of building up or increasing.

were being amassed

This suggests a large quantity or accumulation of something.

were being harvested

This alternative implies a more systematic or organized gathering.

were being harvested

This alternative might apply if the items being collected are crops or natural resources.

were undergoing assembly

The action of putting pieces together into a final product.

FAQs

How can I use "were being collected" in a sentence?

Use "were being collected" to describe an action that was in progress in the past, indicating that items or information were in the process of being gathered. For example, "The samples "were being collected" throughout the day for analysis".

What's a synonym for "were being collected"?

Alternatives include "were gathered", "were assembled", or "were accumulated". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "was being collected" instead of "were being collected"?

No, "was being collected" is for singular subjects. Use "were being collected" for plural subjects. For example: "The data were being collected", but "The sample was being collected".

What is the difference between "were collected" and "were being collected"?

"Were collected" indicates a completed action in the past, while "were being collected" indicates an ongoing action in the past. For instance, "The data "were collected" yesterday" vs. "The data "were being collected" over the course of the week".