were not liked

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were not liked" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone or something was not favored or appreciated by others in the past. Example: "The new policy changes were not liked by the employees, leading to a decline in morale."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

In contrast, geopolitical boundary limits on the data were not liked.

Journal of Applied Volcanology

A second experiment was conducted to test whether the same results would be obtained using a within-subjects design, in which each child was assigned to repeatedly taste two vegetables that were not liked, one presented with dip and one without.

Appetite

In 1997, before the advent of social media, the teenagers existed in a world in which their thoughts and movements were not liked or shared or tracked.

Vice

In 1997, before the advent of social media, the teenagers existed in a world in which their thoughts and movements were not liked, shared, or tracked.

Vice

The paper published a letter McCartney submitted in response in which he noted several of the work's faster tempos and added, "happily, history shows that many good pieces of music were not liked by the critics of the time so I am content to ... let people judge for themselves the merits of the work".

Wikipedia

The remaining 217 people that were not liked in the large pedigree were distributed in small families ranging from one large pedigree (7 individuals in a tree of 45 people in 7 generations) to 48 family trios, that could not be linked to the pedigree because of mssing data or poor quality of the genealogical information.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Anne was not liked.

The Guardian - Books

"I am not, like, Superman.

The New York Times - Arts

Nick Kyrgios: "I wasn't like really surprised.

BBC

"It's not like before.

The New Yorker

It's not like America.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were not liked" to clearly and directly express that something was unpopular or disapproved of in the past. Ensure the context clearly indicates who did not like it.

Common error

Avoid using "were not liked" when you should be using an active construction. For example, instead of "The changes were not liked by the team", consider "The team disliked the changes" for a more direct and concise statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were not liked" functions as a passive construction indicating disapproval or a lack of preference. As Ludwig AI points out, it describes a state where something or someone failed to gain favor. The auxiliary verb 'were' and the past participle 'liked' create the passive voice.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

43%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "were not liked" serves as a direct way to indicate disapproval or lack of preference in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While the phrase is relatively straightforward, consider factors such as target audience, context, and desired tone when selecting a replacement. The sources show usage across various domains, the most common ones being News & Media and Science. While perfectly acceptable, be mindful of the active alternatives to produce better writing and increase clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were disliked

Direct synonym, replacing "liked" with "disliked" to convey the same negative sentiment.

were not well-received

Emphasizes the negative reaction or response to something.

were not appreciated

Focuses on the lack of value or recognition, instead of direct dislike.

did not find favor

A more formal and indirect way of expressing dislike.

were frowned upon

Indicates disapproval from a social or cultural standpoint.

were not popular

Focuses on the lack of widespread approval or acceptance.

were rejected

Suggests a more active dismissal or refusal.

were unwelcome

Highlights the lack of acceptance or hospitality.

were objectionable

Highlights the presence of something offensive or disagreeable.

were undesirable

Emphasizes the lack of wanting or wishing for something.

FAQs

What does "were not liked" mean?

The phrase "were not liked" indicates that something or someone was unpopular or disapproved of. It expresses a lack of favor or appreciation.

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

You can use "were not liked" to describe reactions to policies, foods, ideas, or people. For instance, "The new regulations "were not liked" by the community."

What are some alternatives to "were not liked"?

Alternatives include "were disliked", "were not appreciated", or "were unpopular". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "were not liked" formal or informal?

"Were not liked" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, more formal alternatives like "did not find favor" might be preferred in certain academic or professional settings.