were rejected out

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were rejected out" is not correct in standard written English.
It is unclear and lacks context, making it difficult to determine its intended meaning or usage. Example: "The proposals were rejected out of hand due to their lack of feasibility."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

They say his plans were rejected out of hand.

The Guardian

Mr. Wagner said that 3 to 5 percent of travelers were rejected, out of about 30,000 applications every month, and that individuals are generally told the reason for the denial.

The New York Times

Both were rejected out of hand, meaning the 78-year-old – preparing to stand in 2015 for another term despite earlier promising this would be his last – could theoretically carry on forever.

The Guardian - Sport

Those proposals were rejected out of hand – Corbett's SRC refused to even met the PFT at the bargaining table to negotiate because to do so would have been to undermine their ultimate objective.

The Guardian - Opinion

None of the points raised by Mr. Doctoroff were rejected out of hand yesterday by state officials, though it is not clear if the city's conditions, taken together, would yield a substantively different plan.

The New York Times

But today Mr. Fleischer said, "Any options dealing with any changes in the nursing home procedures that could lead to less inspections were rejected out of hand" more than two weeks ago -- some time before Aug. 24.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

It may be rejected out right by an absolute majority of MEPs.

Wikipedia

Similarly, although the changes in P between central and marginal populations were greater than those typically associated with genetic drift where proportionality is used as a criterion [ 49], non-proportional changes as seen here may also result from the actions of drift and cannot be rejected out-of-hand until better diagnostics are developed [ 27].

BMC Evolutionary Biology

It was rejected out of hand.

The New York Times - Science

But there have been subtle hints that alternate possibilities are not being rejected out of hand.

The New York Times

Kicking the can down the road is unacceptable and should be rejected out of hand.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, use precise verbs like "dismissed", "rejected", or "refused" instead of the ambiguous "were rejected out".

Common error

Be careful not to use "were rejected out" in formal writing, as it can be considered grammatically incorrect and unclear. Opt for stronger, more direct verbs to ensure your meaning is easily understood.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were rejected out" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that something received the action of being rejected. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is not correct in standard written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

31%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "were rejected out" is an uncommon and potentially grammatically questionable expression. As Ludwig AI notes, it's not considered correct in standard written English. While examples exist, they often benefit from additional context like "of hand" to clarify the meaning of immediate refusal. For clarity and formality, it's best to opt for stronger verbs like "dismissed", "refused", or "turned down". This ensures your message is easily understood and appropriate for various writing contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were dismissed

Focuses on the act of being discarded or deemed unworthy of consideration.

were turned down

Implies a refusal of an offer or request.

were refused

Highlights the denial of something requested or offered.

were declined

Suggests a polite refusal.

were denied

Emphasizes the withholding of something expected or requested.

were discarded

Focuses on the act of throwing something away as useless.

were eliminated

Highlights the removal from a competition or selection process.

were excluded

Focuses on being left out or not included.

were invalidated

Suggests that something was made void or without legal force.

were vetoed

Implies a rejection by someone with the power to prevent something.

FAQs

What's a more grammatically correct way to say "were rejected out"?

You can use alternatives such as "were dismissed", "were rejected", or "were refused" depending on the context.

Is "were rejected out" appropriate for formal writing?

No, "were rejected out" is not generally considered appropriate for formal writing. It's better to use clearer and more formal alternatives like "were dismissed outright" or "were turned down".

How can I use "were rejected out of hand" in a sentence?

A correct example is: "The proposals "were rejected out of hand" due to their lack of feasibility." This implies an immediate and complete rejection.

What's the difference between "were rejected" and "were rejected out"?

"Were rejected" is a grammatically sound passive construction. "Were rejected out" is uncommon and typically considered incorrect; it often needs further context, such as ""were rejected out of hand"", to be meaningful.