were reviewed

USAGE SUMMARY

"were reviewed" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is used to describe an action that has already been completed or a situation that has been carefully examined and evaluated. It is typically used in the past tense to indicate that the reviewing has already taken place. Example: The report was thoroughly analyzed and all the data were reviewed before presenting it to the board of directors.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Charts were reviewed.

Annals of Intensive Care

550 publications were reviewed.

Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology

Medical records were reviewed.

Intensive Care Medicine Experimental

42 cases were reviewed.

Intensive Care Medicine Experimental

Eleven studies were reviewed.

Journal of the American Dietetic Association

Patients were reviewed postoperatively.

British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Complications following infusion were reviewed.

Intensive Care Medicine Experimental

All observations were reviewed anonymously.

Annals of Intensive Care

Medical records were reviewed retrospectively.

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Six controlled trials were reviewed.

Patient Education and Counseling

Sixty-two records were reviewed.

Pediatric Neurology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance readability, avoid overuse of the passive voice. While "were reviewed" is grammatically correct, consider active voice constructions like "The committee reviewed the proposals" for a more direct style.

Common error

Avoid using "was reviewed" when referring to multiple items. "Was reviewed" is singular, while "were reviewed" is plural. For example, it's incorrect to say "The documents was reviewed"; the correct phrasing is "The documents were reviewed".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were reviewed" functions as the passive voice of the verb "review". It indicates that the subject of the sentence received the action of being reviewed by someone or something else. Ludwig shows many examples where data or documents "were reviewed".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

75%

News & Media

12%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were reviewed" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to indicate that something has been examined or assessed. As Ludwig confirms, the phrase is primarily used in scientific, news, and business contexts. When using this phrase, ensure proper subject-verb agreement and consider active voice constructions for a more direct style. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is suitable for various writing registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

underwent review

Focuses on the process of undergoing a review, rather than the completed action.

were examined

Emphasizes a detailed inspection or investigation.

were assessed

Highlights the evaluation aspect of the review process.

were inspected

Suggests a careful and formal examination.

were scrutinized

Implies a very thorough and critical examination.

were evaluated

Similar to assessed, but can imply a more formal judgment.

were checked

Suggests a simpler, less intensive form of review.

were audited

Specifically refers to a systematic examination of records or accounts.

were gone over

An informal way of saying something was reviewed or examined.

were reconsidered

Focuses on the act of thinking about something again, often for a different outcome.

FAQs

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

Use "were reviewed" to indicate that something has been examined or assessed. For example, "The findings "were reviewed" by the board before the final decision was made."

What are some alternatives to using "were reviewed"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "were reviewed" include "were examined", "were assessed", or "underwent review".

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

"Was reviewed" is used for singular subjects, while "were reviewed" is used for plural subjects. For example, "The document was reviewed", but "The documents were reviewed".

What's the difference between "were reviewed" and "had been reviewed"?

"Were reviewed" indicates a past action, while "had been reviewed" indicates an action completed before another point in the past. Example: "The reports "were reviewed" yesterday." vs. "The reports had been reviewed before the meeting started."