were hired

USAGE SUMMARY

"were hired" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that happened in the past, usually to refer to an action that someone took to hire a person or people. For example, "The new employees were hired last week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Private detectives were hired.

The New York Times

Intervention specialists were hired.

The Washington Post

Soon, lawyers were hired.

The New York Times

Well-connected politicos were hired as consultants.

The New York Times

Police officers were hired to provide security.

The New York Times - Books

One girl & 15 men were hired.

The New Yorker

The best coaches were hired.

The Guardian - Opinion

Staff were hired to do the chores.

The Economist

Two performing-arts teachers were hired.

The New York Times

Outside consultants and experts were hired.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Petitioners were hired for their sales experience.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were hired", ensure the subject clearly identifies who was employed or contracted. For instance, "The consultants were hired to improve efficiency."

Common error

Avoid using "was hired" when referring to a plural subject. The correct form is "were hired" for multiple individuals or entities.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were hired" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that the subject received the action of being employed. Ludwig shows numerous examples of this usage in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Academia

12%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "were hired" is a common and grammatically correct passive verb phrase used to indicate that individuals or entities have been employed or contracted. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous real-world examples. It's suitable for various contexts, primarily appearing in News & Media and Academia. Remember to use "were hired" with a plural subject and consider alternatives like "were employed" or "were recruited" for nuanced meaning. Ensure correct subject-verb agreement to avoid errors. The phrase carries a neutral register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were employed

Synonymous, emphasizing a more formal employment relationship.

were recruited

Focuses on the process of actively seeking and engaging new personnel.

were appointed

Suggests a selection or assignment to a specific role or position.

were contracted

Implies a formal agreement for specific services, often short-term.

were taken on

Indicates acceptance or onboarding into a team or organization.

were engaged

Highlights the act of securing someone's services or participation.

were selected

Emphasizes the choice made from a pool of candidates.

were brought on board

Idiomatic phrase for welcoming new members to a team.

were enlisted

Often used in the context of military or voluntary service.

were assigned

Suggests delegation or allocation to a specific task or duty.

FAQs

How is "were hired" used in a sentence?

Use "were hired" to indicate that multiple people or entities were employed or contracted for a specific purpose. For example, "The new staff "were hired" to handle the increased workload".

What's the difference between "was hired" and "were hired"?

"Was hired" is singular, used when one person or entity was employed. "Were hired" is plural, used when multiple people or entities "were hired".

What can I say instead of "were hired"?

Alternatives include "were employed", "were recruited", or "were contracted", depending on the specific context.

Is "were hired" formal or informal?

"Were hired" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, making it a versatile choice for various writing styles.