were not mentioned

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were not mentioned" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when indicating that something was not included or referred to in a previous discussion or text. Example: "The key points of the meeting were not mentioned in the summary provided."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Miracles were not mentioned.

The Economist

They were not mentioned.

The New York Times - Sports

The police were not mentioned.

The Guardian - Opinion

Fine arts were not mentioned.

The Guardian - Arts

The mittens were not mentioned.

The New York Times

Those factors were not mentioned in Eisentrager.

Cornell University

Just some thoughts that were not mentioned.

Columbia University

Moon and religion were not mentioned.

The Washington Post

Complications from the surgery were not mentioned.

Nature

Once again, videotapes were not mentioned.

The New York Times

Corporate governance issues were not mentioned.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were not mentioned" to clearly indicate that certain topics or details were absent from a particular discussion, document, or report. This helps highlight omissions and potential gaps in information.

Common error

Avoid stringing together multiple passive constructions in a single sentence. While "were not mentioned" is grammatically sound, overuse can make your writing sound weak and convoluted. Aim for a balance with active voice constructions to improve clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were not mentioned" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject did not receive attention in a specific context. It is used to highlight omissions or absences of information, as shown by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

33%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were not mentioned" is a common and grammatically correct passive construction used to highlight omissions in various contexts. According to Ludwig, it appears frequently in news, scientific, and academic writing, serving the purpose of pointing out what has been overlooked or excluded. While generally neutral in register, careful attention should be paid to avoid overuse of passive voice, maintaining clear and impactful writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were not referenced

Emphasizes the absence of a specific citation or source.

were not included

Highlights the exclusion of something from a list or collection.

were not discussed

Focuses on the lack of conversation or debate about a particular topic.

were not covered

Suggests the topic wasn't addressed or examined in detail.

were not addressed

Indicates the topic was avoided or left unresolved.

were not touched upon

Signifies a light or brief mentioning, which did not happen.

were not detailed

Focuses on the absence of elaboration or specific information.

were not specified

Emphasizes the lack of explicit details or instructions.

were overlooked

Suggests something was missed or ignored unintentionally.

were omitted

Highlights the deliberate exclusion of something.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "were not mentioned" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives such as "were not referenced", "were not addressed", or "were not detailed", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "was not mentioned" instead of "were not mentioned"?

Yes, but the choice depends on the subject's number. Use "was not mentioned" for singular subjects and "were not mentioned" for plural subjects. For example, "The issue was not mentioned", versus "The issues were not mentioned".

What is the difference between "were not mentioned" and "were omitted"?

"Were not mentioned" simply indicates that something wasn't brought up. "Were omitted" suggests a deliberate act of leaving something out.

What are some common contexts where "were not mentioned" is typically used?

"Were not mentioned" is commonly used in reports, reviews, and summaries to highlight information that was absent from the original source. It's also used in discussions and analyses to point out topics that were overlooked or ignored.