were followed

USAGE SUMMARY

"were followed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that happened after something else. For example: "The instructions were followed to the letter, resulting in a successful experiment."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Simple procedures were followed.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"People were followed.

The New York Times

The instructions were followed.

The New York Times - Arts

We were followed immediately.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

They were followed by BMW.

The New York Times

We were followed absolutely everywhere.

The New Yorker

They were followed by acrobats.

The New Yorker

They were followed by executives from CCTV.

The New Yorker

They were followed by the Irish.

The New Yorker

Questionable calls were followed by questionable reactions.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Patients were followed-up for 63 days.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were followed", ensure the context clearly establishes what is being followed and by whom. This improves clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "were followed" when an active voice construction is more appropriate. For instance, instead of "The instructions were followed by the team", consider "The team followed the instructions" for a more direct and concise sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were followed" functions as a passive voice construction. It indicates that a subject received an action, primarily in the past tense. As Ludwig AI's examples show, this construction commonly describes the adherence to rules, procedures, or the sequential occurrence of events.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were followed" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction. As Ludwig AI confirms, it commonly describes adherence to rules, sequential events, or consequential actions, and has a neutral register suitable for professional writing. Its prevalence in scientific and news contexts underscores its reliability and broad applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

came after

Emphasizes the sequential order, similar to "were followed" in terms of time or position.

ensued

Implies a consequence or result, similar to "were followed" when indicating what happened next.

were implemented

Focuses on the execution or carrying out of something, similar to "were followed" in the context of instructions or guidelines.

were executed

Stresses the active performance of a task after a previous event.

were adhered to

Highlights the compliance aspect, similar to "were followed" in the context of rules or protocols.

were subsequent to

Indicates a temporal relationship, emphasizing that something happened after something else.

were in compliance with

Focuses on adherence to rules, regulations, or standards.

were subsequent upon

Alternative way to specify the thing that happened right after the previous one.

were conducted after

Specifies an action taken after something else, often in a procedural context.

were subsequent on

Alternative way to say something is depending on the previous action.

FAQs

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

You can use "were followed" to indicate that certain actions, procedures, or events happened after something else. For example: "The instructions "were followed" carefully", or "The initial arrests "were followed" by a series of investigations".

What is an alternative to "were followed" that emphasizes sequence?

Alternatives that emphasize sequence include "came after", "ensued", or "were subsequent to". The choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

In what context is it most appropriate to use the phrase "were followed"?

The phrase "were followed" is appropriate in contexts where you want to emphasize that actions, procedures, or guidelines were adhered to or occurred in a specific sequence, such as in scientific reports, legal documents, or instructional manuals.

Is "were followed" formal or informal language?

"Were followed" is generally considered neutral to formal language, suitable for professional writing, news reporting, and academic papers. It avoids slang or colloquialisms.