were completed

USAGE SUMMARY

"were completed" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that has been finished: All of the tasks were completed by the end of the day.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Only 127 were completed.

The New York Times

"Fact checks were completed.

The New York Times

79 projects were completed.

University of California, Berkeley

Two surveys were completed.

University of California, Berkeley

Psychologic questionnaires were completed.

The Journal of Pediatrics

Both were completed in 2012.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Over 50 books were completed.

Princeton University

Of those, 8,605 were completed.

The New York Times

Last year 17,977 properties were completed.

The Economist

Last year just 119,000 were completed.

The Economist

None were completed when play was suspended.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the passive voice, ensure the actor is either unknown, unimportant, or best emphasized later in the sentence for clarity and impact.

Common error

Overuse of passive voice without a clear understanding of its impact on sentence structure can lead to ambiguity. Ensure the subject and object of the action are clear within the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were completed" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that an action has been finished by an unspecified or less important agent. Ludwig AI confirms this usage with numerous examples of completed tasks or processes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were completed" is a grammatically correct and frequently used passive verb phrase that indicates the conclusion of an action or task. According to Ludwig AI, its neutral tone makes it suitable for various contexts, including news media, scientific reports, and academic papers. Although its usage is generally straightforward, writers should be mindful of the potential for ambiguity inherent in passive voice constructions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been finished

Focuses on the past perfect tense, emphasizing the completion before a specific time in the past.

had been finalized

Emphasizes the conclusive and definitive nature of the completion.

were concluded

A more formal synonym, highlighting the end or termination of something.

were executed

Suggests the successful carrying out and completion of a plan or task.

were accomplished

Highlights the successful achievement of a goal or task.

were fulfilled

Emphasizes the satisfaction of a requirement or condition.

were implemented

Focuses on putting a plan or system into effect and bringing it to completion.

were realized

Highlights the bringing of something into existence or actuality.

were discharged

Suggests the fulfillment of a duty or obligation.

were brought to fruition

A more figurative expression for achieving a successful outcome after a period of development.

FAQs

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

The phrase "were completed" indicates that a task or project has been finished. For example, "The renovations "were completed" in November 2008."

What are some alternatives to "were completed"?

You could use alternatives like "were finished", "were finalized", or "were concluded" depending on the context.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "were completed"?

The choice depends on the context. Passive voice is suitable when the actor is unknown or unimportant, but active voice may be better for directness. For example, instead of "The tasks "were completed" by the team", you could say "The team completed the tasks."

What's the difference between "were completed" and "were finished"?

While similar, "were completed" often implies a more thorough or comprehensive ending, while "were finished" is a more general term for reaching the end. The sentences "The project "was finished"" and "The project "was completed"" may be interchangeable, but "completed" suggests a level of detail and attention to thoroughness.