were notified of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were notified of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone has been informed about something, typically in a formal context. Example: "The employees were notified of the changes to the company policy via email."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Workers were notified of the layoffs yesterday.

The New York Times

Parents were notified of the illness by computerized phone calls.

The New York Times

The workers were notified of the cuts yesterday, a spokesman, James Sciales, said.

The New York Times

Last week, students were notified of SUNY's decision, which was first reported by The Jewish Week.

The New York Times

But Jordanian authorities were notified of the killing, and Mr. Abequa was captured in late July.

The New York Times

The matter became publicly known only on Friday when museum directors were notified of the claim.

The New York Times

Staff were notified of the latest appointments in a company-wide announcement made yesterday by McLellan.

The Guardian

So were the emergency services, as long as they were notified of changes.

The New York Times

The 12 victims were notified of the yearlong investigation in March.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Consumers are notified of this".

The Guardian

Were patients being notified of their results?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were notified of" when you want to emphasize the formal aspect of receiving information. It's appropriate for official announcements, legal notices, or any situation where a formal communication is required.

Common error

Avoid overuse of passive constructions like "were notified of" in contexts where active voice would be more direct and engaging. For instance, instead of "The team were notified of the delay", consider "The team learned about the delay" if the focus is on their discovery.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were notified of" functions as a passive construction, indicating that someone or something received information or a formal announcement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a grammatically sound and usable phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

36%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were notified of" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to indicate the formal receipt of information. As Ludwig AI highlights, its usage spans across diverse contexts, especially in news, scientific, and academic domains. While effective in formal settings, writers should be mindful of overusing passive constructions and consider active alternatives for more direct communication. The authoritative sources and consistent usage patterns solidify its place as a reliable phrase in formal English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were informed of

A direct synonym, implying the receipt of information.

were made aware of

Highlights the process of becoming conscious or knowledgeable about something.

were advised of

Suggests receiving guidance or counsel regarding something.

were given notice of

Emphasizes the formal provision of information.

were apprised of

A more formal synonym for "were informed of", often used in legal or official contexts.

were alerted to

Implies a warning or call to attention regarding something.

were updated on

Indicates the receipt of the latest information about a topic.

received notification about

Focuses on the act of receiving a formal notice.

were told about

A more casual way of saying "were informed of".

were kept in the loop about

Suggests being included in ongoing communication or updates.

FAQs

What does "were notified of" mean?

The phrase "were notified of" means that someone was officially informed or given notice about something. It implies a formal communication or announcement.

How to use "were notified of" in a sentence?

You can use "were notified of" when you want to indicate that someone received information in a formal or official way. For example: "The employees "were informed of" the new company policy."

What can I say instead of "were notified of"?

You can use alternatives like ""were informed of"", "were advised of", or "were made aware of depending on the context.

Is it better to use active or passive voice when conveying information?

While "were notified of" is grammatically correct, using the active voice can sometimes be more direct and impactful. For example, instead of saying "The customers were notified of the change", you might say "We notified the customers of the change" to emphasize who took the action.