were being evaluated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'were being evaluated' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something was happening at a specific time in the past. For example: "The students' test results were being evaluated when the bell rang."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The other six men were being evaluated, Ms. Gray said.

The New York Times

Mr. Jaczko said that all reactors were being evaluated.

The New York Times

We first visited New Humanitarian when Danya, Arden and Emmett were being evaluated for admission.

The New York Times - Magazine

So, formally or informally, those rookies were being evaluated based on the raw numbers of stops.

The New York Times

"The Revisionaries" looks at 2009 and 2010, when new books were being evaluated.

The New York Times

The firefighter and another first responder, possibly a police officer, were being evaluated at the scene, officials said.

The New York Times

Mr. Millard argued that his service on the selection committee was not prohibited by law, and that he followed the rules about not discussing contract details with the bidders while the proposals were being evaluated.

The New York Times

In an effort to keep the cost of the project below two and a half billion dollars, changes to the underground mezzanine were being evaluated, including a dimunition of public space.

The New Yorker

He said Friday that the company had not yet decided where it would build the car but that offers of sites from three or four other states were being evaluated.

The New York Times

We do not know if the BfR evaluation is unusual in having been drafted by the firms whose products were being evaluated, or unusual because German regulators were honest enough to make that practice explicit.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Voiceprints are being evaluated.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were being evaluated" to describe a process that was actively happening in the past, especially when the emphasis is on the action rather than the actor performing the evaluation.

Common error

Avoid using "were being evaluated" when the evaluation is complete. Use "had been evaluated" or "were evaluated" instead to indicate a completed action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were being evaluated" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that the subject received the action of evaluation. This construction shifts the focus from the evaluator to the entity or item being assessed. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound and readily usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

31%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were being evaluated" is a grammatically sound passive verb phrase used to describe an ongoing evaluation process in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a versatile phrase, found commonly in science and news contexts. While adaptable to both neutral and formal settings, it's essential to ensure proper tense usage to avoid errors. Alternatives like "were under evaluation" offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis. By following best practices and avoiding common errors, you can effectively use "were being evaluated" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were under evaluation

Changes the verb from active to passive construction, emphasizing the state of being assessed.

were in the process of being assessed

Adds detail about the ongoing nature of the evaluation.

were undergoing assessment

Replaces 'evaluated' with 'assessment' and uses 'undergoing' to highlight the experience of the subjects.

were subject to evaluation

Emphasizes that the evaluation was mandatory or required.

were being reviewed

Substitutes "evaluated" with "reviewed", indicating a less formal assessment.

were getting evaluated

Uses the more informal "getting" instead of "being", which is suitable for less formal contexts.

were being considered

Suggests a preliminary stage of evaluation where potential is being assessed.

were being judged

Emphasizes the aspect of making a judgment or decision based on the evaluation.

were having an evaluation done

Rephrases using 'having' to indicate that the evaluation is being performed by someone else.

were in the midst of an evaluation

Highlights the active and ongoing status of the evaluation.

FAQs

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

You can use "were being evaluated" to describe an ongoing process in the past, for example, "The proposals "were being evaluated" by the committee last week".

What's a more formal alternative to "were being evaluated"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "were under evaluation" or "were subject to evaluation", which are suitable for professional or academic contexts.

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

No, "was being evaluated" is used with singular subjects, while ""were being evaluated"" is for plural subjects or with the pronoun "you".

What's the difference between "were evaluated" and "were being evaluated"?

"Were evaluated" indicates a completed action, while ""were being evaluated"" indicates that the evaluation process was in progress at a specific time in the past.