were communicated to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'were communicated to' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to the act of conveying information to someone. For example: The new company policies were communicated to all the employees.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The warnings were communicated to potentially affected areas via mail, telegraph, and other forms of communication.

Wikipedia

HIV test results were communicated to the referring provider either directly by the patient or via direct communication from HIV counselor to the referring provider (with patient assent).

Plosone

The comptroller's objections were communicated to the mayor quietly.

The New York Times

When President Kerrey was notified, what facts were communicated to him?

The New York Times

He also said the company was still looking into what messages were communicated to passengers.

The New York Times

The troubles discussed at that time, the regulator found, were of a "lesser amplitude" than those that were communicated to the public on June 13 , 2006

The New York Times

"The terms of the decision taken by the Fifa appeal committee were communicated to the player and the Uruguayan FA today".

The Guardian - Sport

All aspects of my remuneration were determined by the remuneration committee and to the best of my knowledge were communicated to the full board.

The Guardian - Business

And they said problems with the software that powers the Web site were communicated to senior officials in the president's administration.

The New York Times

These field notes were communicated to the other authors throughout the data collection process.

Health & Justice

The results were communicated to the receiving physician verbally via Skype.

Critical Ultrasound Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were communicated to", ensure the subject clearly identifies who or what received the communication. Clarity prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid omitting the agent (the one doing the communicating) when it's important for understanding. If the communicator matters, rephrase to active voice: "The manager communicated the changes to the team" is clearer than "The changes were communicated to the team."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were communicated to" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that information or instructions were conveyed. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability. The examples show its role in describing how information reaches its intended recipients.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

29%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "were communicated to" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction, as confirmed by Ludwig. It serves to highlight the recipient of information rather than the sender. Its prevalence in scientific, news media, and wiki articles demonstrates its adaptability. While suitable for various contexts, it is advised to ensure clarity by specifying the communicating agent or to consider using the active voice when the communicator is important. Ludwig's examples effectively illustrate this phrase's role in reporting how information is shared. In essence, "were communicated to" is a versatile phrase for conveying the transmission of information, provided clarity and context are maintained.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were conveyed to

Implies a more formal or indirect transmission of information.

were disclosed to

Suggests revealing previously hidden information.

were imparted to

Focuses on the act of bestowing knowledge or wisdom.

were transmitted to

Suggests a process of sending information from one point to another, potentially in a technical context.

were revealed to

Similar to disclosed, but often implies a more gradual uncovering.

were notified to

Focuses on the act of formally informing someone.

were announced to

Implies a public declaration of information.

were made known to

A more descriptive way of saying information was shared.

were passed on to

Suggests a less formal relaying of information.

were articulated to

Emphasizes the clear and distinct expression of information.

FAQs

How can I use "were communicated to" in a sentence?

Use "were communicated to" to indicate that information, instructions, or feelings were conveyed to someone or something. For example, "The changes /s/were+communicated+to the team" or "The risks /s/were+communicated+to the stakeholders".

What are some alternatives to "were communicated to"?

Alternatives include "were conveyed to", "were disclosed to", or "were imparted to", each suggesting a slightly different nuance in how the information was shared.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with the phrase "were communicated to"?

While "were communicated to" is grammatically correct, using the active voice (e.g., "They communicated the message to us") is often more direct and clearer, especially when the actor is known and relevant.

What's the difference between "were communicated to" and "were transmitted to"?

"Were communicated to" implies a general sharing of information, while "were transmitted to" often suggests a more technical or formal sending of information, like data or signals.