were employed

USAGE SUMMARY

"were employed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that someone was hired for a job or a task. For example, "She was happy to hear that she had been employed by the company after the interview."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

All the fathers were employed".

The New York Times

No language restrictions were employed.

Nature

Previously only two rotating casts were employed.

The Guardian

These methods were employed for Sept. 11.

The New York Times

"We never even were employed," he said.

The New York Times

All were employed by Cantor Fitzgerald.

The New York Times

Translators were employed for cross-border communications.

Harvard Business Review

Three independent samples were employed for analyses.

Nature

Two standard measures of connectivity were employed.

Nature

Two methods were employed.

Polymer

Two research methods were employed.

Travel Behaviour and Society

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were employed" in your writing, ensure that the context clearly indicates who or what was being used or hired. For example, specify "methods were employed" or "staff were employed" for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "were employed" without a clear subject. Ensure the sentence clearly states who or what is performing the action. For instance, instead of saying "were employed", specify "new techniques were employed by the researchers".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were employed" functions primarily as a passive voice construction of the verb 'employ'. It indicates that a subject received the action of being hired or utilized. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

51%

News & Media

27%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were employed" is a grammatically sound and versatile passive construction commonly used to describe the utilization or hiring of resources. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's prevalent across scientific, news, and formal business contexts. When using "were employed", clarity is key; ensure that the subject and context clearly indicate who or what was being hired or utilized. Alternatives such as "were utilized", "were hired", and "were used" can provide nuanced meaning variations depending on the intended message. Remember to avoid using "were employed" without a clearly defined subject to ensure grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were hired

This alternative directly replaces "employed" with "hired", focusing on the act of recruiting someone for a job.

were recruited

Similar to "were hired", but often implies a more active search and selection process.

were utilized

This suggests a more general use or application, rather than specifically hiring for a job.

were used

This alternative is a more generic term for utilization, applicable to both people and things.

were engaged

This implies involvement or participation, often in a specific task or activity.

were put to work

This emphasizes the active deployment of resources or personnel.

were appointed

This suggests a formal selection or designation for a particular role.

were assigned

This indicates the allocation of specific tasks or responsibilities.

were tasked

This focuses on the specific assignment of duties or responsibilities.

were brought on board

This idiom suggests welcoming new members into a team or organization.

FAQs

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

"Were employed" indicates that someone or something was used for a particular purpose or hired for a job. For instance, "Various methods "were employed" to solve the problem" or "Several new employees "were employed" during the expansion."

What are some alternatives to "were employed"?

Alternatives include "were utilized", "were hired", "were used", or "were engaged", depending on the specific context. For example, instead of "Translators "were employed"", you might say "Translators "were utilized"".

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

The choice depends on the context. Passive voice, as in "were employed", is suitable when the action is more important than the actor. Active voice (e.g., "The company employed several new strategies") is preferable when you want to emphasize who is performing the action.

What's the difference between "were employed" and "were deployed"?

"Were employed" generally refers to being hired or used for a task or purpose. "Were deployed" typically implies being strategically positioned or used in a specific situation, often in a more tactical or organized manner. For example, soldiers might be "deployed", while staff are "employed".