were informed about

USAGE SUMMARY

"were informed about" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it whenever you want to talk about a past event, such as when someone was informed about something. For example: "They were informed about the new rules before they went on the trip."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

during the information sessions and were informed about the investigation.

BMC Nursing

All subjects were informed about the study protocol, and written informed consent was obtained.

International Journal of Bipolar Disorders

All patients were informed about the surgical procedure of this study and signed an informed consent.

International Journal of Implant Dentistry

Straw said that neither he nor Macpherson were informed about the undercover operations.

The Guardian

Claydon ensured that staff were informed about what was going to happen.

The Guardian

Both the president, Vladimir Putin, and the prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev, were informed about the incident.

The Guardian

"Hamas were informed about the deal, they were told about it," said Hellyer.

The Guardian

Tory MPs were informed about the final deal at 10pm last night.

Independent

"We were informed about the arrest, and we're working closely with U.S. authorities," he said.

The New York Times

They were informed about these strikes.

BBC

The subjects were informed about the aim of this study.

Gynecological Surgery

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For formal writing, consider alternatives like "were apprised of" or "were notified of" to add a layer of professionalism.

Common error

Avoid using "were informed about" without a clear subject. Saying "people were informed about the changes" is less effective than "employees were informed about the changes". Specificity enhances clarity and avoids confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were informed about" functions as a passive voice construction. It indicates that a subject received information. Ludwig AI's examples show that it's used to convey that someone was given knowledge or details regarding a particular topic or event.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

47%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were informed about" is a common and grammatically correct passive voice construction used to indicate that someone received information. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in various contexts. Predominantly found in scientific and news sources, it serves the purpose of reporting the transmission of knowledge in a neutral tone. While alternatives like "were notified of" or "were briefed on" exist, "were informed about" provides a versatile and widely accepted way to express the act of conveying information, ensuring clarity and specificity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were notified of

Changes the verb to 'notify', emphasizing the act of giving official notice.

were told about

A more direct and simple way of expressing the communication of information.

were apprised of

Replaces 'informed' with 'apprised', suggesting a more formal communication.

were made aware of

Uses a more descriptive phrase focusing on achieving awareness.

were briefed on

Implies a concise and structured presentation of information.

received information on

Focuses on the reception of information rather than the act of informing.

were updated on

Suggests that new or current information was provided.

were acquainted with

Indicates a more thorough introduction to the information.

were instructed on

Emphasizes the provision of information for guidance or training.

were enlightened about

Implies a clarification or deeper understanding gained through the information.

FAQs

How can I use "were informed about" in a sentence?

You can use "were informed about" to indicate that someone received specific information. For example, "The team members "were informed about" the project's new deadline".

What are some alternatives to "were informed about"?

Alternatives include "were notified of", "were told about", or "were briefed on", each varying slightly in formality and emphasis.

Is it correct to say "was informed about" instead of "were informed about"?

"Was informed about" is used for singular subjects, while "were informed about" is for plural subjects. For instance, "He was informed about the meeting" versus "They "were informed about" the meeting".

What is the difference between "were informed about" and "were updated on"?

"Were informed about" generally means receiving initial information, while "were updated on" implies receiving new or current information on a topic already known. "Were updated on" suggests a continuation of knowledge.