were made clear

USAGE SUMMARY

"were made clear" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used to describe a situation or information that has become easily understandable or clarified. Example: After the presentation, all the doubts and questions were made clear to the audience.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

Tensions were made clear in a curt statement by Angelino Alfano, PdL secretary and deputy prime minister.

The Guardian

Once the facts were made clear, there was no White House attempt at obstruction of justice or at a coverup.

The New Yorker

The effects of that reprimand were made clear with the release of this latest broadside in the propaganda war.

The New York Times

The difficulties were made clear in articles by Nicholas Wade and Andrew Pollack in The Times this month.

The New York Times

The staff are always treated like the most precious commodity in the store and communication channels were made clear.

Independent

He points out that the principles of current monetary policy were made clear in the rules of Monopoly.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

11 human-written examples

"That was made clear.

The New York Times - Sports

Priorities are made clear.

The New York Times

Nothing is made clear.

The Guardian - Books

A motive has never been made clear.

The New York Times

That's been made clear.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were made clear" when you want to emphasize that a process or action led to something becoming understandable. This phrasing highlights the active role in clarification.

Common error

While "were made clear" is grammatically sound, avoid overusing passive voice in your writing. Sometimes, an active construction can be more direct and impactful. For example, instead of "The instructions were made clear by the teacher", consider "The teacher clarified the instructions".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were made clear" functions as a passive construction, indicating that something has been clarified or elucidated. As Ludwig indicates, this construction is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

24%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were made clear" is a grammatically correct and common phrase used to indicate that something has been clarified or explained effectively. Ludwig's analysis shows it's suitable for various contexts, but is most frequently found in news and media. Alternatives like "were clarified" or "became clear" offer slightly different nuances, as explained by Ludwig. While "were made clear" is acceptable and correct, avoid the overuse of the passive voice in writing, as that negatively impacts your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were clarified

Focuses more directly on the act of clarifying, omitting the 'making' aspect.

became clear

Shifts the emphasis to the state of being clear rather than the action of making something clear.

were elucidated

Uses a more formal and sophisticated vocabulary to convey the meaning of clarification.

were explained

Emphasizes the process of explaining something to make it understandable.

were revealed

Suggests that something previously hidden has now been brought to light and made understandable.

were demonstrated

Highlights that the point was proved with practical examples

were specified

Emphasizes the detailing of particular rules or indications

were identified

Focuses on the act of pinpointing or recognizing something distinctly.

were simplified

Indicates a reduction in complexity to enhance understanding.

were defined

Refers to providing a precise meaning or explanation of something.

FAQs

How can I use "were made clear" in a sentence?

You can use "were made clear" to indicate that something has been clarified or explained effectively. For example, "The objectives of the project "were made clear" during the meeting".

What are some alternatives to "were made clear"?

Alternatives include "were clarified", "became clear", or "were elucidated". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "were made clear"?

While "were made clear" uses passive voice, it's grammatically correct. However, active voice can sometimes be more direct. For example, instead of "The details "were made clear" by the manager", you could say "The manager clarified the details".

What's the difference between "were made clear" and "became clear"?

"Were made clear" suggests an action taken to clarify something, while "became clear" implies a more gradual or natural process of understanding. For instance, "The rules "were made clear" by the instructor" implies the instructor actively explained them, whereas "The reasons "became clear" over time" suggests understanding developed gradually.