were not informed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were not informed" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is a passive verb phrase, indicating that someone did not receive information or knowledge about something. Example: The students were not informed about the change in the exam schedule, causing confusion and frustration among them.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

American authorities were not informed.

The Economist

Passengers, however, were not informed.

The New York Times

Guru's wife and son were not informed.

The Guardian - Opinion

Mr Speaker, we were not informed of this in advance.

The Guardian

We were not informed of this prior to arriving".

The New York Times

Subjects were not informed that memory testing would take place after 4 weeks.

Neurobiology of Learning and Memory

The participants were not informed that they were, in fact, tasting the same beer.

Food Quality and Preference

But I do think they were not informed about what was at stake.

The Guardian - Business

It remains unclear why Yahoo users were not informed about the hack during that time.

The New York Times - Tech

"The development at Gladstone went ahead and we were not informed in time.

The Guardian

The school authorities and residents were not informed of the leak until December, she said.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the active voice alternative if appropriate. Sometimes, stating who failed to inform can add more impact to your message.

Common error

Avoid using "were not informed" without clearly stating who was uninformed. For example, instead of saying "The decision was made, and they were not informed", specify "The decision was made, and the stakeholders were not informed".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were not informed" functions as a passive verb phrase. It indicates that a subject (person or group) did not receive information. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

48%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were not informed" is a grammatically correct and very common passive verb phrase used to indicate a lack of knowledge or awareness. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for a wide range of contexts, but its frequency is especially high in News & Media and Science. When using this phrase, ensure you clearly specify who was not informed and about what, to avoid ambiguity. Consider alternatives like "were not notified" or "were kept in the dark" depending on the context. While versatile, clarity remains key for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were not notified

A direct synonym emphasizing the lack of formal communication.

were uninformed

This is a more concise, adjectival way of saying that someone did not receive information.

were not apprised of

A more formal way of saying that someone was not informed, often used in official or legal contexts.

did not receive notification

This alternative specifically points to the absence of an official notice or communication.

were not told

A simpler, more direct way of stating that information was withheld.

remained unaware

This phrase highlights a state of lacking awareness, focusing on the absence of knowledge.

had no knowledge of

Emphasizes the complete absence of information or understanding.

lacked awareness

Focuses on the absence of knowledge or perception regarding something.

were kept in the dark

This alternative uses a more figurative expression to emphasize the lack of information.

were oblivious to

Highlights a lack of awareness, often implying that the information was available but not noticed.

FAQs

What does "were not informed" mean?

The phrase "were not informed" means that a person or group of people did not receive information about a particular matter, situation, or event. It indicates a lack of knowledge due to a failure in communication.

What can I say instead of "were not informed"?

You can use alternatives like "were not notified", "remained unaware", or "were kept in the dark" depending on the context.

How can I use "were not informed" in a sentence?

You can use "were not informed" to indicate a lack of communication, such as: "The patients were not informed about the risks of the procedure", or "The employees were not informed of the company's financial difficulties until it was too late."

Is it better to use active or passive voice when describing that someone didn't receive information?

Whether to use active or passive voice depends on the context. Active voice (e.g., "They didn't inform the team") is more direct and emphasizes who failed to communicate. Passive voice ("The team were not informed") emphasizes the lack of knowledge and is suitable when the actor is unknown or unimportant.