were retained by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were retained by" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to indicate that something was kept or held by someone or something in the past. Example: "The documents were retained by the legal department for further review."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Our drafts were retained by the security officer for shredding.

The New York Times

None of these shares carried voting rights, which were retained by the central banks.

The New York Times

E-book rights, under older book contracts, were retained by the authors".

The New York Times - Books

Control over key issues such as taxation, policing, and criminal justice were retained by Westminster.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Dave Hudgens, the hitting coach, and Dan Warthen, the pitching coach, were retained by the Mets.

The New York Times

Raghunath was pensioned and his cause abandoned, but Salsette and the Broach revenues were retained by the British.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A third group of titles, including Top Gear and Good Food, were retained by BBC Worldwide but published by Immediate Media under a contract publishing agreement.

The Guardian

For years, thanks to the reserve clause in contracts, the rights to players were retained by their team, leaving the players little leverage to negotiate better salaries.

The New Yorker

While the top three places were retained by Cambridge, Oxford and St Andrews, Loughborough jumped seven places to join Surrey in fourth.

The Guardian

In its first couple of years, other lawyers who were retained by Death Row told me, Kenner was doing its criminal-defense work, and he did not appear to have a broader role.

The New Yorker

Only in recent years and only with mixed success have publishers pushed to obtain the rights to digital editions in their initial contracts for authors' books, so most digital rights were retained by authors and agents.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were retained by", ensure that the subject clearly indicates what is being kept or maintained, and the object specifies who or what is doing the retaining. This ensures clarity and avoids ambiguity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid overusing the passive voice with "were retained by", as it can sometimes make your writing sound less direct and less engaging. Consider using the active voice to emphasize the actor, for example, instead of saying "The documents were retained by the legal team", say "The legal team retained the documents".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were retained by" functions as a passive construction, indicating that something (the subject) was kept or held by someone or something else (specified after 'by'). Ludwig AI confirms this usage is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

32%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were retained by" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction indicating that something was kept or held by a specified entity. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and commonality. It's most often found in science, news, and wiki contexts, maintaining a neutral to formal tone. While alternatives like "were kept by" or "were held by" exist, "were retained by" is suitable when you need to emphasize the action of keeping or maintaining possession, especially in more formal settings. Remember to avoid overusing the passive voice for clarity and directness in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were kept by

Replaces "retained" with the more common synonym "kept", indicating a simple act of keeping something.

were held by

Substitutes "retained" with "held", suggesting a more active or deliberate holding of something.

were maintained by

Focuses on the continuous upkeep or preservation, rather than just simple possession.

were preserved by

Highlights the act of saving something from decay or loss.

were secured by

Emphasizes the safety and protection provided by keeping something.

were possessed by

Indicates ownership or control, often implying a more formal or legal context.

were owned by

Directly states ownership, removing the implication of a deliberate action.

were controlled by

Shifts the focus to authority and management rather than mere possession.

were administered by

Suggests a formal process of managing or overseeing something.

were safeguarded by

Highlights the protective measures taken to ensure something is kept safe and secure.

FAQs

How do I use "were retained by" in a sentence?

Use "were retained by" when you want to indicate that something was kept or held by a person, group, or organization. For example, "The original documents "were retained by" the archive for preservation".

What can I say instead of "were retained by"?

You can use alternatives like "were kept by", "were held by", or "were maintained by" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "were retained by"?

While "were retained by" is grammatically correct, using the active voice can often make your writing more direct and engaging. For instance, instead of "The information "were retained by" the system", you can say "The system retained the information".

What is the difference between "were retained by" and "were acquired by"?

"Were retained by" implies that something was kept or maintained by someone, whereas "were acquired by" suggests that something was obtained or gained by someone. The key difference is that "retained" indicates keeping something already possessed, while "acquired" indicates gaining something new.