were judged

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were judged" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where a past action of evaluation or assessment is being described, typically in relation to people or situations. Example: "The contestants were judged based on their performance and creativity during the competition."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A few were judged to be fakes.

The New York Times

Even private baths were judged suspect.

The Economist

The miniature poodles were judged at noon.

The New York Times - Sports

As time passed, the players were judged less harshly.

The Guardian - Sport

Four samples were judged to be laced with anthrax spores.

The New York Times

All three councils were judged as good, four years ago.

The Guardian

Both elections were judged free and fair by international observers.

The New York Times

Ten were judged "good", seven "inadequate" and 26 "requires improvement".

The Guardian

That is not how they were judged at the time.

The Guardian - Opinion

But the benefits were judged to outweigh that risk.

The New York Times

Woe betide a minister whose briefing notes were judged inadequate.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were judged", ensure the context clearly identifies who or what did the judging. This adds clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "were judged" without specifying the criteria or standards used for judgment. Providing context enhances the sentence's meaning and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were judged" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject of the sentence underwent an evaluation process. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use, especially in contexts where an assessment has been performed.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

55%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "were judged" is a versatile and grammatically sound construction, commonly used to indicate that an evaluation or assessment has taken place. As Ludwig AI confirms, it functions primarily in the passive voice, conveying that a subject has been appraised according to specific criteria. The usage of this phrase spans diverse contexts, from news and media to science and formal business settings. While often neutral to formal in tone, ensure the context clearly identifies who or what did the judging to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "were evaluated" or "were assessed" can be used for a more formal tone, while "were considered" offers a simpler alternative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were evaluated

Emphasizes a formal assessment or examination process.

were assessed

Focuses on determining the value or significance of something.

were considered

Highlights the act of taking something into account.

were deemed

Implies a formal or official judgment.

were determined

Focuses on the process of finding something out for certain.

were regarded

Indicates a general opinion or view held about something.

were thought to be

Expresses a belief or opinion about something.

were estimated

Focuses on an approximate calculation or judgment.

were concluded

Suggests a final decision or judgment reached after consideration.

were interpreted

Highlights the understanding or explanation given to something.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "were judged" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using alternatives like "were deemed", "were evaluated", or "were assessed". These options often appear in official or academic contexts.

What's a simpler way to say "were judged"?

You could use "were considered" or "were regarded". These options are less formal and more conversational.

In what situations is it best to use "were judged"?

"Were judged" is appropriate when something has been formally or officially evaluated, often implying a set of criteria or standards were applied. The examples provided by Ludwig showcase the versatility of this phrase across diverse contexts.

What is the difference between "were judged" and "were considered"?

"Were judged" implies a more formal assessment leading to a conclusion, while ""were considered"" suggests that something was taken into account but not necessarily evaluated definitively.