were imagined

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were imagined" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that was conceived or thought of in the past, often in a hypothetical or creative context. Example: "The worlds in the novel were imagined by the author as a reflection of her own experiences."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Note that during these imagination sessions, L-DOPA stimuli and placebo stimuli were imagined and rated in separate sessions (phase 2A and phase 2B, respectively).

Current Biology

Improvements were imagined almost immediately.

The New York Times - Sports

Viktor Shtrum and all the others were imagined complicitly before they were imagined fearlessly.

The Guardian - Books

Ramifications of the plot were imagined everywhere, and in all about 35 innocent people were executed.

Britannica

Never mind if the obscenities were imagined — "Louie Louie" promised its listeners stronger stuff.

The New Yorker

Intelligence was faked, W.M.D.s were imagined, Iraq was laid waste, and American freedoms were trashed.

The New Yorker

"These were imagined as much as bedrooms as dining rooms," Ms. Spang said.

The New York Times - Food

Progressing in this way, an entire series of rings were imagined by Laplace to form around the central protosun.

Harvard University

Before utopias and dystopias became imagined futures, they were imagined pasts, or imagined places, like the Garden of Eden.

The New Yorker

I've taken time to tell the story of Berkeley's founding to suggest how many of its distinctive features were imagined from the beginning.

University of California, Berkeley

Chagrined officers and officials said the cream-colored van, the olive-skinned man and the broken taillight were imagined and not seen.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were imagined", ensure that the subject clearly indicates who or what was doing the imagining to maintain clarity and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "were imagined" with inanimate subjects that cannot perform the act of imagining. For instance, instead of saying 'The results were imagined', consider 'The results were predicted' or 'The results were estimated' to better reflect the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were imagined" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject received the action of being imagined. This construction emphasizes the thing or concept that was imagined rather than the agent doing the imagining. Ludwig examples demonstrate its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were imagined" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction, perfect for describing past conceptions or ideas. As indicated by Ludwig, its versatility makes it appropriate for diverse writing registers, especially in news, scientific, and academic contexts. While semantically similar alternatives like "were conceived" or "were envisioned" exist, it's crucial to ensure the subject can logically perform the act of imagining. By following these guidelines, writers can confidently and effectively employ "were imagined" in their work.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were conceived

Replaces 'imagined' with 'conceived', emphasizing the formation of an idea or plan.

were envisioned

Substitutes 'imagined' with 'envisioned', highlighting a clear mental picture or foresight.

were dreamt up

Replaces 'imagined' with 'dreamt up', suggesting a more whimsical or creative origin.

were speculated

Substitutes 'imagined' with 'speculated', implying a degree of uncertainty or conjecture.

were hypothesized

Replaces 'imagined' with 'hypothesized', indicating a formal proposition based on limited evidence.

were presumed

Substitutes 'imagined' with 'presumed', suggesting an assumption based on probability.

were supposed

Replaces 'imagined' with 'supposed', implying a common belief or expectation.

were fantasized

Substitutes 'imagined' with 'fantasized', indicating a whimsical, often unrealistic imagining.

were theorized

Replaces 'imagined' with 'theorized', suggesting a structured or scientific approach to imagining.

were concocted

Substitutes 'imagined' with 'concocted', highlighting the inventiveness or artificiality of the creation.

FAQs

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

Use "were imagined" to describe something that was conceived or thought of in the past. For example, "The possibilities "were imagined" during the brainstorming session".

What are some alternatives to "were imagined"?

You can use alternatives like "were conceived", "were envisioned", or "were dreamt up" depending on the context.

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

No, "was imagined" is used for singular subjects, while "were imagined" is for plural subjects. For example, "The plan was imagined" versus "The plans "were imagined"".

What's the difference between "were imagined" and "were predicted"?

"Were imagined" implies a creative or speculative process, while "were predicted" suggests a forecast based on existing data or trends. The former is more subjective, while the latter is more objective.