were missed

USAGE SUMMARY

"were missed" is correct and can be used in written English.
For example: The final notes of the song were missed by the audience.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

All were missed.

Harvard University

These were missed opportunities.

The New York Times - Arts

There were missed calls.

The New York Times - Sports

Inevitably, opportunities were missed.

The New York Times - Arts

Opportunities were missed.

The New York Times

They were missed".

The New York Times - Sports

Editions were missed.

The Guardian

Tackles were missed.

The Guardian - Sport

And there were missed opportunities!

The New Yorker

Lines were missed, steps skipped.

The New York Times

Appointments were missed, prescriptions "lost".

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were missed" to indicate a failure to achieve, notice, or include something. Ensure the subject clearly identifies what was missed for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "was missed" when referring to multiple subjects. "Was missed" is singular; use "were missed" for plural subjects.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were missed" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject experienced a failure, oversight, or absence. Ludwig AI confirms this through its analysis of numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

34%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were missed" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and common usage across diverse sources. It is generally used to express a failure to achieve, notice, or include something. While versatile, it is often found in news reports, scientific papers, and business communications. Remember to ensure subject-verb agreement, using "were" for plural subjects and "was" for singular ones. For more formal contexts, consider alternatives like "were overlooked" or "went unnoticed".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were overlooked

Emphasizes the act of neglecting or failing to consider something.

went unnoticed

Focuses on the aspect of something not being observed or recognized.

were not achieved

Similar to "were not attained", but with a broader application.

weren't detected

Highlights the aspect of something not being identified.

were not attained

Highlights the failure to reach a specific goal or outcome.

were not found

Emphasizes the lack of discovery or detection.

were absent

Directly states the lack or non-existence of something.

were left out

Highlights the act of exclusion or omission.

slipped by

Suggests a more casual or inadvertent oversight.

were skipped

Implies that something was intentionally or unintentionally passed over.

FAQs

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

Consider using phrases like "were overlooked", "were omitted", or "went unnoticed" in more formal contexts.

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

No, "was missed" is singular and should be used when referring to a single subject. Use "were missed" for plural subjects. For example, "The opportunities were missed."

What does "were missed" mean?

The phrase "were missed" indicates that something was not achieved, noticed, included, or attended. It implies a failure or absence.

What are some alternatives to "were missed" in the context of missed opportunities?

In the context of missed opportunities, you could use phrases like "were lost", "went unexploited", or "were forgone".