were handwritten

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were handwritten" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that was written by hand rather than typed or printed. Example: "The letters were handwritten, giving them a personal touch that was appreciated by the recipients."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"The regrets were handwritten".

The New York Times - Style

Both were handwritten in similar block letters.

The New York Times

He had no secretary, and his responses were handwritten.

The New York Times - Sports

And then underneath were handwritten and typed letters from the men, often writers.

The Guardian - Film

Others were handwritten as a class assignment and transcribed into e-mail.

The New York Times

There were handwritten messages on napkins on the bar surrounding a glass poured for him.

The New York Times

The notes were handwritten, and in one case included a smiley face.

The New Yorker

Unlike the ready-made banners at Sunday's pro-Putin rally, most of the ones at the Pushkin square were handwritten.

The Economist

A world where the only Christmas letters we had were handwritten with care and thought is – sadly – unthinkable today.

The Guardian - Opinion

The drawings were as folksy as the food, and, as if to drive home the point, the recipes were handwritten.

The New Yorker

"There were handwritten notes, obituaries that were clipped out; it was a carefully kept file," Ms. Blanton says.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were handwritten" to emphasize the personal and unique quality of a message or document. This contrasts with machine-generated text, which often lacks the same sense of authenticity.

Common error

Avoid using "were handwritten" when the context clearly implies manual writing. Overusing the phrase can sound redundant. For instance, if you're already discussing personal letters, specifying they "were handwritten" may be unnecessary.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were handwritten" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that the subject of the sentence received the action of being written by hand. This is seen in Ludwig examples where documents, letters, or notes "were handwritten" by someone.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Science

36%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "were handwritten" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe something written by hand, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's frequently used in News & Media and Science contexts to emphasize the manual creation of documents, notes, or messages. While alternatives like "were written by hand" or "were penned" exist, "were handwritten" is direct and widely understood. When using this phrase, ensure the context aligns with the intention to highlight personalization or authenticity, avoiding redundancy in situations where manual writing is already implied.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were written by hand

Focuses on the action of writing, emphasizing the manual aspect.

were inscribed manually

Highlights the physical act of inscribing something by hand.

were penned

Uses a more concise and stylistic term for handwriting, emphasizing the use of a pen.

were scrawled

Implies a quick, perhaps less legible form of handwriting.

were scripted by hand

Highlights the manual scripting of something, suggesting a careful, deliberate hand.

were drafted in longhand

Specifies the use of longhand, differentiating it from shorthand or other writing methods.

were jotted down

Suggests a quick and informal method of writing, often used for notes.

were autographed

Specifically refers to signatures or personalized handwritten messages.

were calligraphed

Highlights a highly stylized and artistic form of handwriting.

were handwritten in cursive

Specifies the style of handwriting as cursive, emphasizing the connected nature of the letters.

FAQs

How to use "were handwritten" in a sentence?

You can use "were handwritten" to describe documents, notes, or messages created by hand rather than by machine. For example, "The letters "were handwritten", adding a personal touch to the correspondence."

What can I say instead of "were handwritten"?

Alternatives include "were written by hand", "were penned", or "were inscribed manually". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired nuance.

Which is correct, "were handwritten" or "was handwritten"?

"Were handwritten" is used for plural subjects, while "was handwritten" is used for singular subjects. For example, "The notes were handwritten" is correct, whereas "The letter was handwritten" is correct.

What's the difference between "were handwritten" and "were typed"?

"Were handwritten" implies the text was created manually with a pen or pencil, whereas "were typed" indicates the text was produced using a typewriter or computer keyboard. Handwritten notes often convey a personal touch, while typed documents suggest formality and efficiency.