were not dispatched

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were not dispatched" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was not sent out or delivered, often in the context of packages, messages, or orders. Example: "The items were not dispatched on the scheduled date due to a shipping error."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Because the boat was still in Turkish waters at the time, Mr Lewis' crew were not dispatched to the scene and were therefore not in a position to help when the vessel subsequently started to sink, leaving 31 people dead.

Independent

These spies were not dispatched by the belligerent governments of Germany, Italy or Russia, nor were they agents of British intelligence.

Forbes

Avengers were not dispatched from the escort carriers as the cloudy conditions were not suitable for the execution of their task; few mines were available, and as the Avengers could not safely land while still carrying these weapons the mine-dropping element of the plan would fail if they were unable to locate Tirpitz and had to dump their loads into the sea.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Additionally, many of the sheep in our film are not dispatched with a single clean cut but have their throats hacked at repeatedly with a knife that is either blunt or being used ineptly.

Independent

If it's not dispatched today then I think I'll be buying a copy in the shops and returning my Amazon order," says C Dubya on Amazon's customer forum.

The Guardian

People of greater rank than Mortimer's are not dispatched by hanging, but by the axe, and the scenes of such executions are the set-pieces of the book, most eloquently written — all hung with verbal crepe, so to speak, sombre, shivery, oozing a kind of pleasurable Victorian morbidity.

The New Yorker

The battery-storage are not dispatched.

Protection and Control of Modern Power Systems

If reserve capacity is not dispatched, Eq. (10) should be satisfied.

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

It is important to note that in actual practice of ESGD, units are not dispatched corresponding to this table in a strict way, as there are long-term contracts that were signed before the policy came into practice.

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

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Vice

Gibson was initially "visibly upset" that his team was not dispatched to Benghazi along with the other team from Tripoli, the House report said.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were not dispatched" when you want to emphasize that a specific action of sending or assigning something or someone did not occur, often due to a specific reason or circumstance.

Common error

Avoid using "were not dispatched" when the active voice would be clearer and more direct. For example, instead of "The orders were not dispatched by the commander", consider "The commander did not dispatch the orders".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were not dispatched" functions as a passive construction indicating that an action (dispatching) was not performed on a subject. Ludwig confirms this through numerous examples, demonstrating its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were not dispatched" is a grammatically sound passive construction used to indicate that an action of sending or assigning did not take place. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in various contexts. While relatively uncommon, as evidenced by the limited number of examples, its use is appropriate in news, scientific, and general writing to convey a lack of deployment or assignment. When considering alternatives, "were not sent" or "were not deployed" offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis. Avoid using it when the active voice would result in a clearer and more direct sentence structure.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were not sent

Direct synonym, replaces "dispatched" with a more common term while keeping the passive voice.

were not deployed

Indicates a lack of active implementation or strategic placement.

were not delegated

Replaces "dispatched" with "delegated", implying a lack of assignment of responsibility.

were not assigned

Similar to "delegated", but focuses on the act of assigning a task or duty.

did not receive orders

Shifts the focus to the lack of orders being given, rather than the action of dispatching.

were held back

Indicates that something or someone was intentionally prevented from being sent.

were not mobilized

Suggests a lack of preparation or readiness for deployment.

remained unutilized

Focuses on the lack of use or activation of resources.

were kept in reserve

Highlights the strategic decision to keep resources available but not actively used.

were not commissioned

Suggests that something was not formally authorized or initiated.

FAQs

What does "were not dispatched" mean?

The phrase "were not dispatched" means that something or someone was not sent out, deployed, or assigned to a specific location or task. It implies a lack of action in terms of sending or assigning.

When is it appropriate to use "were not dispatched"?

It is appropriate to use "were not dispatched" when you want to emphasize that a specific action of sending or assigning did not occur. This can be useful in describing situations where resources were held back, orders were not given, or personnel were not sent to a particular location.

What are some alternatives to "were not dispatched"?

Some alternatives to "were not dispatched" include "were not sent", "were not deployed", "were not assigned", or "were held back". The best alternative will depend on the specific context.

Is it better to use active or passive voice when describing that something did not get sent, like "were not dispatched"?

While "were not dispatched" is grammatically correct, using the active voice can sometimes make your writing clearer and more direct. For example, instead of "The troops were not dispatched", you could say "The general did not dispatch the troops".