were discontinued

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were discontinued" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has been stopped or no longer produced or offered, typically referring to products or services. Example: "The old model of the smartphone was discontinued last year due to low sales."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The old disputations were discontinued.

The New Yorker

Those services were discontinued within six months.

The New York Times

Passenger flights were discontinued Monday night.

The New York Times

So the special classes were discontinued.

The New York Times

The slow-selling short models were discontinued this year.

The New York Times

They were discontinued in 1938 because of pollution.

The New Yorker

When the Commissioner was retired, the band drills were discontinued.

The New Yorker

(Portions of the program were discontinued in 2011).

The New Yorker

This risk gradually declined when hormones were discontinued.

The New York Times - Science

Several avenues of inquiry pursued by the authorities were discontinued.

The Guardian - Business

**In 1979 fours were discontinued altogether and triples were introduced.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were discontinued" to clearly indicate that something has been stopped or is no longer available, especially in formal writing.

Common error

Avoid using "were discontinued" in very informal settings where simpler terms like "stopped" or "ended" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were discontinued" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject received the action of being stopped or terminated. Ludwig examples show it is used to describe the cessation of various processes, products, or services.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

31%

Wiki

22%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were discontinued" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction, as confirmed by Ludwig. It functions to inform that something has been stopped, most commonly within News & Media and Scientific contexts. Ludwig AI marks it as correct and usable in written English, while more informal situations might benefit from simpler alternatives. This phrase is generally neutral to formal, making it suitable for professional and academic communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were terminated

Indicates a formal or official ending, often used in contracts or agreements.

were ceased

Suggests a more abrupt or immediate halt, often implying a lack of continuation.

were stopped

A general term for ending something, suitable for various contexts.

were ended

Similar to 'stopped' but can imply a more conclusive finish.

were abandoned

Indicates that something was left unfinished or no longer pursued.

were phased out

Implies a gradual withdrawal or cessation over a period of time.

were suspended

Suggests a temporary halt, with the possibility of resumption in the future.

were removed

Indicates the physical or procedural removal of something.

were canceled

Specifically refers to events or plans that have been called off.

were abolished

Implies a formal or legal termination, often of a system or practice.

FAQs

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

The phrase "were discontinued" is used to indicate that something has been stopped or terminated. For example, "The old product lines were discontinued due to low sales".

What's the difference between "were discontinued" and "were stopped"?

"Were discontinued" often implies a more formal or official cessation, particularly in business or medical contexts. "Were stopped" is a more general term and can be used in broader situations.

Are there synonyms for "were discontinued" that I can use?

Yes, depending on the context, you can use synonyms such as "were terminated", "were ceased", or "were abandoned".

Is it correct to use "were discontinued" in both formal and informal writing?

While "were discontinued" is grammatically correct in both formal and informal writing, it's often more suitable for formal contexts. In informal settings, simpler alternatives might be preferred.