were not able to attend

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence 'were not able to attend' is correct and is usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone who was not able to go somewhere or do something. For example: "We were sorry that Jessica and John were not able to attend the wedding."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

If you were not able to attend this year's conference, please check out our other conferences page for more opportunities.

University of California, Berkeley

They found that 65 percent were not able to attend the coed prom because of cultural and religious beliefs.

The New York Times

Focus groups for family members were supplemented by surveys in order to increase participation by individuals who were not able to attend an in-person meeting.

Cornell University

He claims the founding group has 9 members, whom he does not name, and that three other sympathizers were not able to attend the original meeting.

The New York Times

He said he went out to eat after the game with friends and family in nearby Scottsdale and also made calls to other family members who were not able to attend the game.

The New York Times - Sports

Many of the owners were not able to attend, but when we asked about proxies to cast our votes, the managing agent told us that if we did not care enough to attend the meeting, we would not be allowed to vote.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

Even if you weren't able to attend these ethics workshops, you can still find out what was discussed.

Science Magazine

Although parents weren't able to attend that day, all of our student volunteers came and were willing to reschedule the session for a later time.

Duke University

For those that weren't able to attend the panel, or weren't at MIPIM, here are six global PropTech trends to watch for!

Forbes

"I'm very frustrated today, because we weren't able to attend any meetings," said Mearns.

Vice

But key members of the film's crew weren't able to attend.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing formally, consider using "were unable to attend" as a slightly more sophisticated alternative to "were not able to attend".

Common error

Ensure that the reason for not being able to attend is clear from the context. If the reason is important, state it explicitly rather than leaving it to implication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were not able to attend" functions as a verbal phrase expressing the inability of individuals to be present at a particular event or activity. According to Ludwig, this is a correct and usable phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

30%

Academia

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

12%

Wiki

6%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "were not able to attend" is a common and grammatically sound way to express someone's inability to be present at an event. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability. While it's appropriate for various contexts, consider more formal options like "were unable to attend" in professional settings. When using this phrase, clarity is key; ensure the reason for absence is apparent. As seen in Ludwig's examples, this phrase is frequently used across news, scientific, and academic domains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could not attend

A more concise and direct way of expressing the inability to attend.

were unable to attend

A more formal synonym, emphasizing the lack of capacity to attend.

did not attend

Focuses on the action of not attending, without explicitly stating the reason (ability).

missed the event

Highlights the result of not attending: missing the event.

were absent from

Indicates a state of being away or not present.

were not present at

Similar to 'were absent from', emphasizing the lack of presence.

were precluded from attending

A more formal and emphatic way to say they were prevented from attending.

were kept from attending

Suggests an external force prevented them from attending.

had to decline the invitation

Focuses on the act of refusing or being unable to accept an invitation.

were indisposed and could not attend

Indicates that they were unable to attend due to illness or discomfort.

FAQs

What is a more formal way to say "were not able to attend"?

A more formal way to express "were not able to attend" is to use the phrase "were unable to attend". This alternative is suitable for professional or academic writing.

Is "were not able to attend" grammatically correct?

Yes, "were not able to attend" is grammatically correct. It's a common and acceptable way to express that someone was not capable of attending an event or meeting.

What's the difference between "couldn't attend" and "were not able to attend"?

While both convey the same meaning, "couldn't attend" is more informal and concise, whereas "were not able to attend" is slightly more formal and emphasizes the inability to attend. You can use "couldn't attend" in informal contexts.

What are some alternatives to "were not able to attend"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "did not attend", "missed the event", or "were absent from".