were bothered

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were bothered" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a past situation where someone experienced annoyance or discomfort. Example: "They were bothered by the loud noise coming from the construction site next door."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Still, the Rangers were bothered by the loss.

The New York Times - Sports

"You wouldn't live here if you were bothered by cold".

The New York Times

But investigators were bothered by a nagging problem.

The New York Times

The judges were bothered that the "only" evidence was about the 23 children.

The New York Times

The poll respondents were asked if they were "bothered" by the word "refugee".

The New Yorker

ARF! ARF!,' and I could see that the girls were bothered," he said.

The New York Times

"Maybe we were bothered by the trade, I have no idea," Collins said.

The New York Times - Sports

After that, he noticed, the Knicks were bothered by the Warriors' skill and experience.

The New Yorker

Not that long ago parents were bothered by seeing their children reading all the time.

The Guardian

whatever those Six lines were bothered by skitters off like water in hot grease….

The New Yorker

Few of the fans were bothered by the 4.45am kick-off.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were bothered" to express a state of being annoyed, disturbed, or inconvenienced by something. It's particularly effective when describing a passive experience of discomfort or irritation.

Common error

Avoid using the active voice when the passive voice with "were bothered" is more appropriate. For instance, instead of saying "The noise bothered them", consider "They were bothered by the noise" to emphasize their experience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were bothered" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject received the action of being bothered. This highlights the impact or effect on the subject rather than the cause. Ludwig confirms that this usage is grammatically correct and common.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were bothered" is a versatile and commonly used phrase for expressing a state of being annoyed, disturbed, or inconvenienced. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and highlights its frequent appearance across various reliable sources, particularly in news and scientific contexts. It is important to remember the distinction between the passive voice of "were bothered" and active constructions, focusing on the subject's experience. When a more formal or informal expression is needed, consider alternatives such as "were troubled" or "were annoyed" respectively. This phrase is suitable for various contexts, making it a valuable addition to any writer's toolkit.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were annoyed

Implies a feeling of irritation or mild anger, similar to being bothered.

were disturbed

Suggests that someone's peace or tranquility was disrupted, akin to being bothered.

were irritated

Indicates a state of being provoked or impatient, similar to feeling bothered.

were vexed

Implies a state of being annoyed or frustrated, sharing a similar negative connotation with being bothered.

were aggravated

Highlights the intensification of negative feelings similar to "were bothered".

were concerned

Expresses worry or anxiety about something, a deeper level of being bothered.

were troubled

Indicates a state of worry or distress, implying a significant level of being bothered.

were harassed

Implies persistent and aggressive pressure which can lead someone to feel significantly "bothered".

were inconvenienced

Suggests that someone experienced difficulty or disruption, a specific type of being bothered.

were pestered

Focuses on continuous and irritating interruptions, akin to being bothered repeatedly.

FAQs

How can I use "were bothered" in a sentence?

You can use "were bothered" to describe a past state of annoyance or disturbance. For example, "They "were bothered" by the constant noise" or "The students "were bothered" by the difficult exam".

What's a less formal way to say "were bothered"?

In less formal contexts, you could say "were annoyed", "were irritated", or even "were put out" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "were bothered" and "were concerned"?

"Were bothered" generally implies annoyance or inconvenience, while "were concerned" suggests a deeper level of worry or anxiety. The former is about irritation, the latter about care or apprehension.

Can "were bothered" be used in a formal context?

Yes, ""were bothered"" is suitable for formal contexts, especially when reporting observations or findings. For example, "The researchers "were bothered" by the inconsistent data".