were declined

USAGE SUMMARY

"were declined" is correct and usable in written English.
It is the past tense of the verb "decline," and is often used when referring to a request or invitation that was refused. For example, "We asked to use the park for the event, but our request was declined."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

These requests were declined.

The Guardian

Nouns were declined according to seven types.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Many other events, especially those seeking money, were declined.

The New York Times

Requests to interview the "Spider-Man" doctors were declined.

The New York Times

Thirty-three penalties were enforced -- for 288 yards -- and 13 more were declined or offsetting.

The New York Times - Sports

These were declined as they were for "services" at a local brothel.

The Guardian - Money

It does not know how many payments were declined over the period.

The Guardian - Money

Secrecy around the project is tight and all requests for interviews were declined.

The Guardian

But requests by reporters were declined by the Bureau of Prisons.

The New York Times

Repeated requests to interview the Palestinian ambassador to Unesco or his deputy were declined.

The New York Times

Earlier test-drive offers from the company, contingent on having a chaperone ride along, were declined.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were declined", ensure the subject of the sentence clearly identifies what was refused. For instance, "The request for funding was declined" clarifies what faced rejection.

Common error

Avoid using "was declined" when referring to multiple items. The correct form is "were declined". For example, use "The proposals were declined", not "The proposals was declined".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were declined" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject received the action of being refused or rejected. As Ludwig AI confirms, this construction is grammatically sound. Many examples in Ludwig show it used to describe requests, offers, or permissions that did not receive approval.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

38%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were declined" is a grammatically correct passive voice phrase used to indicate that something has been refused. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's widely used across different contexts, including News & Media and Science. When using "were declined", ensure correct subject-verb agreement and consider synonyms like "were refused" or "were rejected" for stylistic variation. While generally neutral in register, its formality makes it suitable for professional writing. Remember that Ludwig contains a multitude of examples of real English usage to guide you further.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were refused

Uses a different synonym for 'declined', maintaining the passive voice and past tense.

were denied

Similar to 'declined' but often implies a more formal or authoritative refusal.

were rejected

Employs another synonym with a slightly stronger connotation of disapproval.

were turned down

Uses a phrasal verb to express the same meaning, offering a more informal tone.

were not approved

Focuses on the lack of official sanction or permission.

did not accept

Shifts to an active voice construction, indicating a deliberate choice not to take something.

were unaccepted

Rare variant, but carries the meaning of something not being received well or agreed upon.

were passed up

Implies a missed opportunity or a deliberate decision not to pursue something.

faced rejection

Focuses on the act of rejection itself, rather than the specific action of declining.

were negated

This emphasizes the nullification or invalidation of something, often a proposal or agreement.

FAQs

How to use "were declined" in a sentence?

Use "were declined" to indicate that something (usually a request, offer, or invitation) was refused. For example, "Our requests "were declined" by the committee".

What can I say instead of "were declined"?

You can use alternatives like "were refused", "were rejected", or "were turned down" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "was declined" or "were declined"?

"Was declined" is used with singular subjects, while ""were declined"" is used with plural subjects. For example, "The offer was declined", but "The offers "were declined"".

What's the difference between "were declined" and "were denied"?

While both indicate refusal, "were declined" often suggests a polite or formal refusal, whereas "were denied" can imply a more forceful or authoritative rejection. "The invitation was declined" versus "Access to the building were denied".