were refused

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were refused" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone or something was denied a request or access in the past. Example: "The applications for the scholarship were refused due to incomplete documentation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

These requests were refused.

Cornell University

They were refused bail.

The New York Times

Minors were refused entry.

The New York Times - Magazine

Both proposals were refused.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Nearly 60% were refused.

The Economist

Those payments were refused.

The New York Times

We were refused.

The Guardian

Both were refused.

The Guardian

No export licences were refused.

The Guardian

Fourteen export licenses for Iran were refused.

The New York Times

Both suggestions were refused," it says.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were refused", ensure the subject clearly identifies who or what experienced the refusal. For example: "The applications for funding were refused due to budget constraints."

Common error

Avoid using "were refused" with a singular subject. The correct form for a singular subject is "was refused". For example, instead of "The application were refused", use "The application was refused".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were refused" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject of the sentence received the action of being refused. This construction is commonly used to emphasize the receiver of the action rather than the actor. Ludwig AI confirms this by showing examples like "They were refused service".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Academia

15%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Science

15%

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were refused" is a grammatically correct and versatile passive construction used to indicate that a request, application, or offer has been denied. As Ludwig AI shows, this phrase is very common and frequently appears in diverse contexts, particularly in news and media, academia, and encyclopedias. While the phrase maintains a neutral register, it's important to ensure subject-verb agreement and avoid using it with singular subjects. Alternatives like "were denied" or "were rejected" offer similar meanings and can be used depending on the specific context. Therefore, based on Ludwig AI analysis, the phrase is appropriate for usage in both formal and informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were denied

Uses a different verb, "denied", to convey the same meaning of being refused.

were declined

Employs the verb "declined" to convey the same meaning of being refused in a more formal manner.

were rejected

Employs the verb "rejected" to indicate that something was not accepted.

were turned down

Uses the phrasal verb "turned down" to mean that a request or application was refused.

were not granted

Expresses the refusal by stating that something was not granted or permitted.

were not allowed

Indicates that permission was not given, resulting in a refusal.

did not receive approval

Rephrases the idea of refusal as a lack of approval, using a more formal tone.

were not permitted

Similar to "were not allowed", but may imply a more formal or official refusal.

met with refusal

Changes the structure to emphasize the act of refusing rather than the state of being refused.

had been refused

Shifts the tense to past perfect, indicating a refusal that occurred before another past event.

FAQs

What is the meaning of "were refused"?

The phrase "were refused" means that a request, application, or offer was denied or rejected. It indicates that permission or acceptance was not granted.

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

You can use "were refused" to describe situations where multiple entities faced denial. For example: "Their requests "were refused" due to lack of supporting documentation."

What are some alternatives to "were refused"?

Alternatives to "were refused" include "were denied", "were rejected", or "were not granted". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is "was refused" or "were refused" correct?

"Was refused" is used with singular subjects, while "were refused" is used with plural subjects. For example: "The request was refused", but "The requests "were refused"."