were shown to be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were shown to be" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing evidence or results that demonstrate a particular conclusion or fact. Example: "The results of the experiment were shown to be consistent with the initial hypothesis."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They were shown to be wrong.

The Guardian

The doubters were shown to be wrong.

The New Yorker

Here the records were shown to be incomplete.

Cornell University

Both approaches were shown to be efficient.

Electrochimica Acta

Its measurements were shown to be repeatable19, 20.

Nature

Additional C. punctata ASP paralogues were shown to be present.

Research in Veterinary Science

Overall, sequence similarities were shown to be 96.7 to 99.9%.

International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health

Positively charged liposomes were shown to be toxic.

International Journal of Pharmaceutics

These were shown to be highly adept for such tasks.

Measurement

and D. purpurea were shown to be more potent.

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

The slag cements were shown to be more resistant.

Construction and Building Materials

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Vary your vocabulary by using alternatives like "were demonstrated to be" or "were proven to be" to avoid repetition.

Common error

Avoid using "was shown to be" when referring to multiple subjects. "Was" is singular, while "were" is plural. Ensure subject-verb agreement for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were shown to be" functions as a passive construction used to indicate that something has been demonstrated or proven through evidence or analysis. As Ludwig AI explains, it's used for presenting findings. Examples show it applied to various subjects, demonstrating a conclusion.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

33%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were shown to be" is a common and grammatically sound construction used to indicate that something has been demonstrated or proven through evidence. As Ludwig AI confirms, this construction is widely applicable in formal and scientific contexts, as well as in news reporting. The phrase functions as a passive construction, emphasizing verified information. Common alternatives include "were demonstrated to be" and "were proven to be". The most frequent usage contexts are science, news media, and academia. Remember to ensure subject-verb agreement when using this phrase and consider alternative phrasings to add variety to your writing. Understanding its proper use enhances clarity and precision in presenting factual information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were demonstrated to be

Replaces "shown" with "demonstrated", emphasizing the act of proving through evidence.

were proven to be

Substitutes "shown" with "proven", highlighting the conclusive nature of the evidence.

were found to be

Uses "found" instead of "shown", suggesting a discovery rather than a demonstration.

were revealed to be

Replaces "shown" with "revealed", implying that something previously hidden has been uncovered.

were established as

Emphasizes that something has been firmly recognized or accepted as something.

were determined to be

Indicates that a conclusion has been reached after investigation or analysis.

were identified as

Focuses on the act of recognizing or classifying something.

were ascertained to be

Replaces "shown" with "ascertained", indicating that something has been discovered with certainty, and changes the tone slightly.

were confirmed as

Highlights that something has been validated or verified.

were understood to be

Indicates a general comprehension or acceptance of something.

FAQs

How can I use "were shown to be" in a sentence?

Use "were shown to be" to indicate that evidence or analysis has demonstrated a particular fact or conclusion. For example, "The experiments "were shown to be" consistent with the hypothesis".

What are some alternatives to "were shown to be"?

Alternatives include "were demonstrated to be", "were proven to be", or "were found to be", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to use "was shown to be" instead of "were shown to be"?

"Was shown to be" is used with singular subjects, while "were shown to be" is used with plural subjects. Choose the correct form to ensure subject-verb agreement.

What's the difference between "were shown to be" and "were considered to be"?

"Were shown to be" implies that something has been demonstrated or proven, while "were considered to be" suggests a belief or opinion without necessarily having definitive proof.