were prolonged

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were prolonged" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something has been extended in duration or time. Example: "The negotiations were prolonged due to disagreements between the parties involved."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Most frequent asynchronies were prolonged cycles and ineffective efforts, ineffective efforts being most of the time associated with prolonged cycles.

Annals of Intensive Care

The ovations were prolonged.

The New York Times - Arts

Suddenly, there were prolonged bursts of shooting.

Independent

The ovations were prolonged and deserved.

The New York Times - Arts

The bleeding time and the coagulation time were prolonged.

Yale University

As the EU sanctions were prolonged for another year recently, so the counter-sanctions were too.

The Guardian

Monday, but the deadlines -- already extended for weeks -- were prolonged yet again.

The New York Times

"Their attacks were prolonged and well orchestrated and left 14 England fans hospitalised.

The Guardian - Sport

Negotiations over the restructuring were prolonged, and are not finished yet.

The New York Times

Some added that if it were prolonged shutdown they would turn to parcel post.

The New York Times

Positive and negative values were prolonged and shortened phenological duration when transferred compared with donor site, respectively.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing events, use "were prolonged" to accurately convey that a specific duration was lengthened, as opposed to simply stating that something "continued" without specifying the duration.

Common error

While both phrases indicate an increase in duration, be mindful of the nuance. "Were prolonged" often implies a process or state being drawn out, whereas "were extended" can simply mean that a time limit was officially increased.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were prolonged" primarily functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that a subject experienced an extension in duration. This is supported by Ludwig examples where durations of events, symptoms, or procedures are described as having been lengthened.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

63%

News & Media

35%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were prolonged" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that something's duration was extended. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide applicability. The phrase appears most frequently in scientific and news contexts, and it is suitable for a neutral register. While alternatives like "were extended" or "were lengthened" exist, choosing the right synonym depends on the specific context and nuance you want to convey. Remember to avoid confusing "were prolonged" with "were delayed", as they have distinct meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were extended

This alternative focuses on the act of making something longer in duration or scope.

were lengthened

This alternative emphasizes the increase in physical or temporal length.

had their duration increased

This alternative highlights the specific aspect of duration being augmented.

were stretched out

This alternative suggests a more expansive and sometimes less precise extension of time.

were drawn out

This alternative implies a gradual and sometimes unnecessary lengthening of events.

were perpetuated

This alternative suggests that something was prolonged so as to continue indefinitely.

were continued

This alternative focuses on something being unbroken and uninterrupted.

saw their timelines expanded

This alternative emphasizes the growth and expansion of timeframes.

experienced extended periods

This alternative shifts the focus to the experience of longer timeframes.

were spun out

This alternative means something was drawn out, often unnecessarily.

FAQs

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

You can use "were prolonged" to indicate that something lasted longer than expected or was intentionally extended. For example, "The negotiations "were prolonged" due to disagreements.".

What are some alternatives to "were prolonged"?

Some alternatives include "were extended", "were lengthened", or "were drawn out" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "was prolonged" instead of "were prolonged"?

The correct form depends on the subject. Use "was prolonged" for singular subjects (e.g., "The meeting was prolonged") and "were prolonged" for plural subjects (e.g., "The delays were prolonged").

What's the difference between "were prolonged" and "were delayed"?

"Were prolonged" indicates something lasted longer than anticipated, whereas "were delayed" means something was postponed or started later than expected. They have different meanings; delays can be "were prolonged" but a process cannot be delayed.