were not shipped

USAGE SUMMARY

"were not shipped" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to items that were supposed to be shipped but did not get shipped. Example sentence: The computers that were supposed to be shipped to the new office were not shipped.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Sweet potatoes do not like cold soil, so they were not shipped until May.

The New York Times

Beyond that, government rules forbidding foreign nationals from handling federal assets would ensure that the servicing jobs were not shipped abroad.

The New York Times

Additionally, because his Arabians were not shipped via Britain, they were not certified by the United Kingdom's Jockey Club before arriving in America, and without that authentication, the American Jockey Club refused to register his imported horses.

Wikipedia

Blood samples were not shipped.

Diabetologia

In three cases, the patient or their families decided during the selection process that palliative care was preferable to active treatment and matched CTLs were not shipped.

British Journal of Haematology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

While numbers for October will be down, she expects to make up for it by shipping more dresses in November — the ones that weren't shipped earlier.

The New York Times

If a product is not shipped nationwide, it is not featured in the magazine.

The New York Times

Cargo is not shipped by Republican or Democratic railroads, ships, barges or pipelines.

The New York Times

The cheese is not shipped in wheels, but in one-pound wedges coated in wax, above left.

The New York Times - Food

All villagers that are not shipped from the Home City cost wood instead of food.

Wikipedia

The initial announcement gave a December 2007 release date, but the port was not shipped to retailers until February 2008.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were not shipped", ensure the context clearly indicates what items are being discussed and why their failure to be shipped is relevant. For example, "The replacement parts were not shipped due to a warehouse error."

Common error

Avoid using "were not shipped" when the active voice would be clearer and more direct. Instead of "The items were not shipped by the company", consider "The company did not ship the items."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were not shipped" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that a particular action (shipping) did not occur. As Ludwig AI points out, this construction focuses on the items that did not undergo the shipping process. Examples from Ludwig demonstrate its use in diverse contexts like delayed plant deliveries, undelivered blood samples, and unavailable products.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were not shipped" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to convey that specific items or goods did not undergo the shipping process. It commonly appears in news reports, scientific articles, and general explanations. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and suitable for use. While "were not shipped" is not overly common, it effectively communicates the absence of a shipment and can be readily understood in various contexts. For clarity, ensure the context indicates what was meant to be shipped and why it's significant.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

did not get shipped

An informal alternative with the same core meaning.

were not transported

Focuses on the general act of transporting items.

were not delivered

Emphasizes the failure of reaching the final destination.

were not sent

A simpler term, useful in less formal contexts.

were not dispatched

Highlights the initial sending or forwarding of items.

were not conveyed

A more formal way of saying items were not carried.

were not forwarded

Implies an interruption in the shipping process.

remained undelivered

Focuses on the state of not being delivered.

were held back

Suggests a deliberate withholding of the shipment.

missed their shipment

Emphasizes that items failed to be included in a shipment.

FAQs

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

You can use "were not shipped" to describe items that were expected to be sent but did not get sent. For instance, "The samples "were not shipped" due to unforeseen circumstances."

What are some alternatives to saying "were not shipped"?

You can use alternatives like "were not transported", "were not delivered", or "were not dispatched" depending on the context.

Is it better to use active or passive voice when talking about shipping?

It depends on what you want to emphasize. Use active voice (e.g., "The company did not ship the goods") when you want to focus on the actor. Use passive voice (e.g., "The goods "were not shipped"") when you want to focus on the items or the action.

What's the difference between "were not shipped" and "did not ship"?

"Were not shipped" (passive voice) focuses on the items that didn't get shipped. "Did not ship" (active voice) focuses on the entity that failed to ship them. For example, "The order "were not shipped"" versus "The supplier "did not ship" the order".