were fixed

USAGE SUMMARY

"were fixed" is correct and usable in written English.
You would use this when referring to something that was corrected, arranged, or solved in the past. For example: "The issues that had been causing the computer to crash were fixed after some troubleshooting."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

His pupils were fixed.

The New York Times

The apartments were fixed.

Stanford University

"We were fixed up".

The Guardian - Books

"His eyes were fixed.

The New Yorker

They were fixed.

The New York Times

"Values were fixed," Forman recalls.

The Guardian

His eyes were fixed downward.

The New Yorker

Their eyes were fixed on his lips.

The New Yorker

Steel insists that "the goalposts were fixed".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

The rest were fixed-rate.

The New York Times

Cells were fixed by ice-cold methanol.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were fixed" to indicate that something has been successfully repaired or resolved. For example, "The errors in the code were fixed, resulting in a more stable application".

Common error

Avoid using "was fixed" when referring to multiple items. "Was fixed" is singular, while "were fixed" is plural. For example, it's incorrect to say "The issues was fixed"; instead, use "The issues were fixed".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were fixed" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject of the sentence underwent a process of being repaired, corrected, or resolved. This is supported by Ludwig's examples, which showcase its application across various domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

52%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were fixed" is a versatile phrase used in the passive voice to denote that something has been successfully repaired, corrected, or resolved. As Ludwig confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, including scientific, news, and formal communications. While "were fixed" is a common phrase, remember to use it with plural subjects and choose a register that is fitting for the occasion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been repaired

Focuses specifically on the act of repairing something.

were mended

Similar to 'repaired', but often implies a simpler fix.

were corrected

Emphasizes the act of correcting errors or mistakes.

were adjusted

Highlights that something was modified to improve it.

were resolved

Indicates that problems or issues were successfully dealt with.

were secured

Implies that something was firmly attached or made safe.

were established

Suggests that something was officially set up or determined.

were arranged

Focuses on the act of planning or organizing something.

were set

Indicates that something was placed or positioned in a certain way.

were determined

Emphasizes the process of discovering or deciding something definitively.

FAQs

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

You can use "were fixed" to describe a past action where something was repaired, corrected, or resolved. For example, "The bugs in the software "were fixed" by the development team".

What is a good alternative to "were fixed"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "were repaired", "were corrected", or "were resolved".

Is it correct to say "was fixed" instead of "were fixed"?

No, "was fixed" is used for singular subjects, while "were fixed" is used for plural subjects. For example, "The issue was fixed" (singular) versus "The issues were fixed" (plural).

What's the difference between "were fixed" and "are fixed"?

"Were fixed" indicates a past action, while "are fixed" indicates a present state. For example, "The problems were fixed yesterday" (past) versus "The problems are fixed now" (present).