were reached

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were reached" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is the past tense of the verb "reach" and is most often used in a passive voice construction. Example: The deadline for the project was extended until all necessary resources were reached.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

No conclusions were reached.

The New York Times

were reached after breakup.

Global and Planetary Change

Four conclusions were reached.

Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering

But no deals were reached.

The New York Times

The following conclusions were reached:.

Vaccine

Agreements were reached with Portugal in 1818.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Both residents were reached by telephone.

The New York Times

The highest levels were reached in 1981.

The New York Times

Mr. Collins said no agreements were reached.

The New York Times

Compromises were reached, petitions and objections withdrawn.

The Guardian - Sport

No agreements were reached, Lavrov told reporters.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were reached", ensure the subject performing the reaching action is clearly defined, either explicitly or implicitly, to maintain clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "were reached" without a clear understanding of who or what facilitated the reaching. The passive voice implies the action's focus is on the recipient, not the actor; if the actor is important, use the active voice instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were reached" functions as a passive verb construction, indicating that a subject has been acted upon. As Ludwig AI states, it uses the past tense of "reach" in the passive voice. Examples show it referring to agreements, conclusions, levels, and people.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

52%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were reached" is a common passive verb construction used to indicate the attainment of a goal, conclusion, or contact. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and appears frequently in diverse contexts such as News & Media and Science. While versatile, it's essential to ensure clarity regarding the actor involved, either explicitly or implicitly, to avoid ambiguity. Related phrases like "were attained" or "were achieved" may provide suitable alternatives depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were attained

This alternative replaces "reached" with "attained", focusing on the achievement aspect.

were achieved

This alternative uses "achieved" instead of "reached", emphasizing the accomplishment of a goal.

were obtained

This alternative highlights the act of acquiring something, using "obtained" instead of "reached".

were accomplished

This alternative uses "accomplished" to emphasize the successful completion of something.

were met

This is used when indicating that certain targets or goals were successfully reached.

were finalized

This alternative, using "finalized", is suitable when referring to agreements or decisions.

were determined

This alternative is appropriate in contexts where conclusions or outcomes are being defined.

were contacted

This alternative is suitable when discussing communication with individuals or groups.

were secured

This alternative is suitable when emphasis is on safety and guaranteed receiving.

were accessed

This alternative is used to describe the action of gaining entry or access to something.

FAQs

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

The phrase "were reached" is used in passive voice to indicate that something or someone has been contacted or attained. For example, "All participants "were contacted" for the survey".

What are some alternatives to "were reached"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "were attained", "were achieved", or "were obtained" as alternatives to "were reached".

When is it appropriate to use "were reached" instead of "reached"?

Use "were reached" in the passive voice when you want to emphasize the object or goal that was attained, rather than the actor who did the reaching. "Reached" is used in the active voice, focusing on the actor.

Is "was reached" grammatically different from "were reached"?

"Was reached" is the singular form, used when referring to a single subject. "Were reached" is the plural form, used when referring to multiple subjects. For example, "An agreement "was reached"", versus "Agreements were reached".