were prohibited

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were prohibited" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was not allowed or forbidden in the past. Example: "The use of plastic bags in the city were prohibited to reduce environmental waste."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Strikes were prohibited.

The Guardian

Women were prohibited from working.

The Washington Post

Media were prohibited from entering the area.

The New Yorker

Even words like 'future negotiations' were prohibited".

The Economist

Before Proposition 13, parcel taxes were prohibited.

The New York Times

Unchaperoned off-campus dates were prohibited.

The New York Times

Large bags, backpacks and coolers were prohibited.

The New York Times - Sports

Poisons and leghold traps were prohibited in 1998.

University of California, Berkeley

Bags were examined; alcohol and packages were prohibited.

The New York Times

Political parties were prohibited, and the king's authority was sovereign.

Britannica

Property was government owned and private sales were prohibited.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were prohibited", ensure the context clearly indicates the authority or source of the prohibition. For example, specify who or what organization enforced the rule.

Common error

Avoid assuming "were prohibited" implies a universal ban. Clarify the geographical, temporal, or contextual scope of the prohibition to prevent misinterpretations. For example, state "were prohibited in schools" instead of simply "were prohibited" if the restriction only applies to schools.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were prohibited" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that a subject was not allowed or permitted to do something. It expresses a state of being restricted by an external authority or rule, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Science

32%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "were prohibited" is a versatile and commonly used passive construction that clearly indicates something was not allowed. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage, particularly in news, scientific, and academic contexts. For best practice, be sure to clearly state who or what authority enforced the prohibition. Alternatives like "were banned" or "were forbidden" can be used depending on the desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were disallowed

Replaces "prohibited" with a synonym that implies a lack of permission.

were forbidden

A more direct synonym for "prohibited", indicating something was not allowed.

were banned

Implies a formal or official prohibition.

were not permitted

Formally states that something lacked authorization.

were not allowed

A more casual way of saying something was not permitted.

were restricted

Suggests limitations were placed, but not necessarily a complete ban.

were off-limits

Indicates something was out of bounds or inaccessible.

were out of bounds

Suggests a violation of established rules or boundaries.

were interdicted

A more formal or legal term for prohibition.

were vetoed

Implies a specific authority rejected or forbade something.

FAQs

How can I use "were prohibited" in a sentence?

Use "were prohibited" to indicate that certain actions or items were not allowed. For instance, "Smoking and drinking "were prohibited" in the library."

What are some alternatives to saying "were prohibited"?

You can use alternatives like "were forbidden", "were banned", or "were not allowed" depending on the context.

Is it more formal to say "were prohibited" or "were banned"?

"Were prohibited" tends to be slightly more formal than "were banned". Both are acceptable, but "were prohibited" might be preferred in legal or official contexts.

What's the difference between "were prohibited" and "were restricted"?

"Were prohibited" implies a complete ban, while "were restricted" suggests limitations or conditions were placed on something, but it wasn't entirely forbidden.