were guided by

USAGE SUMMARY

"were guided by" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate the influence of a person or thing on another. For example: The group of hikers were guided by an experienced park ranger.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

They were guided by the mob".

The New York Times - Magazine

"We were guided by our own judgment.

The Guardian

His professional choices were guided by his conscience.

The Guardian - Tech

Instead of a map, these weekend wanderers were guided by curiosity.

The New York Times - Travel

His theories were guided by his experience with patients and tested in animal experiments.

The New York Times - Books

He later said that the performances were "guided by testosterone, not talent".

The Guardian - Film

There is no suggestion that Bush felt his actions were guided by God.

The Guardian

Her days were guided by circumstance, and she often spent hours with her subjects.

The New Yorker

In the utter darkness, we were guided by kerosene lamps that hung from the trees.

The New York Times - Travel

Likewise, the great cities of imperial China were guided by Confucian principles.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

So we were... guided by his choices and our values.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were guided by" to clearly indicate that a decision, action, or process was influenced or directed by a specific principle, person, or factor. It emphasizes the source of influence.

Common error

Avoid using "were guided by" with overly broad or undefined subjects. Be specific about what influenced the action or decision to maintain clarity and precision in your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were guided by" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject received direction or influence from an external source. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and suitable for formal and informal contexts. It typically modifies a noun or noun phrase, explaining the reason or influence behind an action or decision.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

34%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were guided by" is a versatile and grammatically correct passive construction used to indicate the influence or direction behind an action or decision. As Ludwig AI confirms, it finds frequent use in scientific, news, and academic contexts. To enhance clarity, it's best practice to use "were guided by" with specific subjects and to avoid vagueness. Alternatives such as ""were influenced by"" or ""were directed by"" can be used to provide slight nuances in meaning. The phrase demonstrates neutral register suitable for varied audiences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were influenced by

Focuses on the impact or effect rather than direct guidance.

were directed by

Suggests a more explicit instruction or command.

were led by

Implies leadership and active direction.

were informed by

Highlights the role of information or knowledge in shaping actions.

were shaped by

Emphasizes the formation or development as a result of influence.

were determined by

Indicates a decisive factor or cause.

were motivated by

Focuses on the underlying reasons or incentives.

were prompted by

Suggests a stimulus or trigger for action.

were dictated by

Implies a strict or authoritative command.

were controlled by

Focuses on the power to regulate or restrain.

FAQs

How can I use "were guided by" in a sentence?

You can use "were guided by" to show influence. For example, "The team's decisions "were guided by" market research".

What can I say instead of "were guided by"?

Alternatives include "were influenced by", "were directed by", or "were led by", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "were guided by" or "was guided by"?

"Were guided by" is used with plural subjects, while "was guided by" is used with singular subjects. For example, "The decisions were guided by data" versus "The decision was guided by intuition".

What's the difference between "were guided by" and "were based on"?

"Were guided by" suggests influence or direction, while "were based on" implies a foundation or starting point. The former focuses on the process of being led, while the latter focuses on the rationale.