were not known

USAGE SUMMARY

'were not known' is correct and usable in written English.
It is used in the past perfect tense, which indicates that something happened before another event in the past. Example: The exact details of the incident were not known until the police investigation was completed.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Their identities were not known.

The New York Times

Marionettes were not known for realistic gaits.

The New York Times - Arts

Terms of the deal were not known.

The New York Times

The ambassador's whereabouts were not known.

The New York Times

Enemy losses were not known.

The New York Times

Gen Rodriguez's whereabouts were not known.

The Guardian

They were not known to each other.

The Times

Speeds in the chase were not known.

The Washington Post

Or they were not known at all.

The Guardian - Opinion

These issues were not known prior to the merger agreement.

Columbia University

Their conditions and identities were not known late yesterday.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were not known", ensure the subject clearly indicates what information was lacking or unacknowledged at a specific point in the past. For example, "The motives for the crime were not known until the investigation concluded".

Common error

Avoid using "were not known" to describe a current state of unknown information. Use "are not known" instead. For example, instead of "The details were not known at this time", use "The details are not known at this time".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were not known" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that something (the subject) was in a state of being unknown at a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its usability, and the examples demonstrate its role in conveying a lack of information.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

25%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "were not known" is a grammatically correct and commonly used passive verb phrase that indicates a state of being unknown in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it serves the purpose of expressing a lack of awareness or information. Analysis of various sources shows it's most frequently used in News & Media, followed by Science and Academia. When writing, ensure the tense is appropriate and consider alternatives such as ""remained unknown"" or "was not revealed" to add nuance. Avoid using it to express present states of unknown information; "are not known" is the correct form in those situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remained unknown

Focuses on the state of being unknown persisting over time.

was not revealed

Emphasizes the act of not disclosing information.

was not disclosed

Similar to "was not revealed", but often implies a more formal or official context.

was not understood

Shifts the focus to a lack of comprehension.

was not apparent

Highlights that something was not easily noticeable or obvious.

was not recognized

Implies a failure to identify or acknowledge something.

escaped notice

Indicates that something was overlooked or not observed.

was not established

Focuses on a lack of confirmation or proof.

was not determined

Highlights the absence of a final decision or conclusion.

eluded discovery

Suggests that something actively avoided being found.

FAQs

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

Use "were not known" to describe information that was unknown at a specific point in the past. For instance, "The victim's whereabouts "remained unknown" for several days".

What's the difference between "were not known" and "are not known"?

"Were not known" refers to a past state of unknown information, while "are not known" refers to a current state. For example, "The long-term effects of the medication "are not known"" indicates current uncertainty.

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

You can use alternatives like ""remained unknown"", "was not revealed", or "was not disclosed" depending on the context.

Is "were not known" grammatically correct?

Yes, "were not known" is grammatically correct when used to describe a past state of unknown information. It's a passive construction in the past tense.