were sent

USAGE SUMMARY

"were sent" is correct and usable in written English.
It is the past tense of the verb "to send". For example: "The invitations were sent out last week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Most were sent back.

The New York Times

Inspectors were sent packing.

The Economist

Death threats were sent.

University of Pennsylvania

The Saints were sent home.

The New York Times - Sports

They were sent to bed.

The New Yorker

Riot police were sent in.

The Economist

Deputies were sent instead.

The Washington Post

Both were sent off.

The Guardian - Sport

They were sent home.

The New York Times

Many glances were sent my way.

The New Yorker

Most of them were sent in 2009.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the passive voice construction "were sent", ensure the subject receiving the action is clearly identified. For example, "The documents were sent to the legal department" clarifies who received the documents.

Common error

Avoid using "were sent" without a clear subject, as it can create ambiguity. Instead of saying "Messages were sent", specify who sent them: "Official HR warnings "were sent"" to be clear and avoid misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were sent" primarily functions as the past passive voice of the verb 'send'. It indicates that the subject of the sentence received the action of being sent, rather than performing the action themselves. Ludwig confirms its correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

22%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were sent" functions as the past passive form of 'send', used to indicate that a subject received the action of being sent. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, and the phrase is very common across various contexts, especially in news, science, and academic writing. When using "were sent", ensure clarity by specifying who or what received the action. Alternatives like "were dispatched" or "were delivered" can add nuance depending on the intended meaning. Understanding these subtle differences will help you use "were sent" and its alternatives effectively in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were dispatched

Replaces "sent" with "dispatched", emphasizing the act of sending something quickly and efficiently.

were transmitted

Uses "transmitted" instead of "sent", suggesting the conveying of information or signals.

were forwarded

Emphasizes the relaying or passing on of something already in transit.

were delivered

Focuses on the arrival or completion of the sending action.

were shipped

Specifically refers to the transportation of goods or items.

were directed

Indicates that something was guided or channeled towards a specific destination.

were conveyed

Highlights the act of communicating or transferring something.

were routed

Focuses on the path or method by which something was sent.

were consigned

Suggests the handing over of something to someone for a specific purpose.

were delegated

Implies that responsibility or authority was transferred to someone.

FAQs

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

"Were sent" indicates a passive action where something was dispatched or transmitted. For instance, "Invitations "were sent" to prospective participants" demonstrates its use in showing that invitations were dispatched to participants.

What's a more formal alternative to "were sent"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "were dispatched" or "were transmitted". These alternatives, like Invitations "were dispatched", often suit business or academic contexts better.

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

While "were sent" is passive, active voice (e.g., "The team sent") can be more direct. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the sender or the receiver of the action.

How does the meaning of "were sent" change with different verbs?

Using alternatives like "were forwarded" or "were delivered" shifts the focus. "Were forwarded" emphasizes relaying, while "were delivered" highlights arrival. The documents "were delivered" focuses on the documents arriving.