were mailed out

USAGE SUMMARY

"were mailed out" is correct and usable in written English.
It typically is used when referring to something that was sent through the postal service. Example sentence: The new invitations were mailed out last week.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nine thousand surveys were mailed out, and 1,300 people responded.

The New York Times

Some of the letters were mailed out before this state of affairs was discovered.

The New Yorker

The letters were mailed out today March 300) to 2,158 students, 6.2percentt of the record pool of 34,950 applicants.

Harvard University

The first letters were mailed out in January and February, and the rest will be distributed quarterly, depending on when a family's lease is up for renewal.

The New York Times

Under the longstanding policy of the testing service, his results were mailed out with the notation, "Scores obtained under special conditions".

The New York Times

Most of that growth stemmed from a sharp rise in consumer spending, driven largely by a continuing boom in mortgage refinancing and checks that were mailed out as part of the recent tax cut.

The New York Times

Ira Lee Sorkin, a lawyer for the 70-year-old defendant, told Judge McKenna that the jewelry gifts were mailed out by Mr. Madoff and his wife in "what turned out to be a desperate and futile effort to reconnect with their family".

The New York Times

Since candidates' pictures were mailed out with the ballots, the voters at least had the opportunity to choose (discriminate?) on the basis of the candidates' looks.

IZA Journal of Labor Economics

It may be entirely possible that the information leaked if guides were mailed out early by mistake.

Huffington Post

Votes for Sundwall on absentee ballots, which were mailed out before he was removed from the ballot, were voided.

Wikipedia

On May 6, the ballots were mailed out, and Thursday's final tally showed the margin of victory was the 70% that Thornton had predicted privately.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the sending of physical items, consider alternatives like "were dispatched" or "were sent" if you want to avoid the specificity of postal mail.

Common error

Avoid using "were mailed out" when referring to electronic communications. Use terms like "were sent", "were emailed", or "were transmitted" instead to accurately describe the method of sending.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were mailed out" functions as a passive verb phrase. It describes an action (mailing) performed on a subject by an unspecified actor. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is grammatically sound and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

57%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "were mailed out" is a grammatically correct and frequently used passive construction, according to Ludwig AI. It indicates that something has been sent via postal mail. It appears most commonly in news and scientific contexts, with neutral formality suitable for a range of communications. Alternative phrases, such as "were dispatched" or "were sent", can be used depending on the desired level of specificity. When using the phrase, be clear about the sender and recipient to avoid ambiguity, and avoid using it when referring to electronic communications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were sent

A more general term indicating that items were transmitted, without specifying the method.

were posted

Implies sending something through the postal system, common in British English.

were dispatched

Focuses on the act of sending, often implying a quicker or more official process.

were forwarded

Implies that items were sent on to a further destination after initial receipt.

were shipped

Suggests sending larger items, typically through a delivery service rather than regular mail.

were issued

Indicates that items were officially released or provided.

were delivered

Highlights the arrival of the items at their destination.

were distributed

Focuses on the act of giving something out to a large group.

were transmitted

Indicates a sending of information and data, often electronically.

were circulated

Suggests items were distributed among a group of people.

FAQs

How can I use "were mailed out" in a sentence?

You can use "were mailed out" to describe the action of sending something through the postal service. For example, "The invitations "were mailed out" last week".

What can I say instead of "were mailed out"?

You can use alternatives like "were dispatched", "were sent", or "were posted" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "were mailed out" or "was mailed out"?

"Were mailed out" is correct when referring to multiple items, while "was mailed out" is correct for a single item. For example, "The letters "were mailed out"", but "The letter "was mailed out"".

What is the difference between "were mailed out" and "were sent"?

"Were mailed out" specifically implies sending something through the postal service, while "were sent" is a more general term that can refer to any method of sending, including email or delivery services.