were sent out

USAGE SUMMARY

"were sent out" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it to indicate that an action was completed in the past, 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

Pink slips were sent out Friday.

The New York Times

Ballots were sent out earlier this month.

The Economist

Warning letters were sent out this month.

The New York Times

Next, e-mails were sent out soliciting interest from students.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Some of the parts were sent out to REC Engineering.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The aerialists were sent out West for training.

The New York Times

When the messages were sent out, they were successfully received.

The Guardian

By March 20th, supportive tweets were sent out by John Legend, MC Hammer, and Cher.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Members were sent out to visit absent numbers and report back to the church.

Cornell University

Two separate documents were sent out by BT.

BBC

Eleven planes were sent out again on Thursday.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the context clarifies who or what initiated the sending action, even if it's implied.

Common error

Avoid using "were sent out" when the active voice is more appropriate and direct. For example, instead of "The emails were sent out by the marketing team", consider "The marketing team sent out the emails".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were sent out" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject of the sentence received the action of being sent. This construction emphasizes the receiver rather than the sender of the action, as demonstrated by examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

31%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were sent out" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive verb phrase for indicating that something has been dispatched or distributed. It is considered correct by Ludwig AI and is prevalent in news, science, and academic writing. While versatile, it's essential to consider whether active voice might be more direct. Alternatives like "were dispatched" may suit more formal contexts. When used correctly, "were sent out" clearly communicates the action of sending, focusing on the recipient rather than the sender.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were dispatched

Replaces "sent out" with a more formal synonym, emphasizing the act of official dispatch.

were issued

Focuses on the action of formally releasing or providing something.

were distributed

Highlights the act of spreading something to multiple recipients.

were mailed

Specifically indicates that items were sent via postal service.

were transmitted

Emphasizes the sending of information or signals.

were released

Focuses on making something available to the public or specific recipients.

were forwarded

Highlights the act of passing something on to a subsequent destination.

were shipped

Indicates that items were sent via a shipping service or method.

were broadcast

Emphasizes a wide distribution to a large audience, often through media.

were delegated

Focuses on assigning tasks or responsibilities to others.

FAQs

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

Use "were sent out" to describe a situation where something was dispatched or distributed. For instance, "The invitations "were sent out" last week", indicating the invitations have been dispatched.

What are some alternatives to "were sent out"?

Alternatives include "were dispatched", "were issued", or "were distributed". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "were sent out" formal or informal?

"Were sent out" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though alternatives like "were dispatched" might be preferred in highly formal settings.

What's the difference between "were sent out" and "were handed out"?

"Were sent out" implies a dispatch or distribution to a location, possibly remote. "Were handed out" implies a direct, personal distribution. For example, flyers "were handed out" at the conference.