were signed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were signed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was officially endorsed or agreed upon by individuals or parties in the past. Example: "The contracts were signed by both parties last week, finalizing the agreement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Papers were signed.

The New York Times

Contracts were signed.

The New York Times - Arts

No pieces were signed.

The New Yorker

Most entries were signed.

Encyclopedia Britannica

They were signed pictures.

The New York Times

No big deals were signed.

The Economist

Two treaties were signed.

Britannica

Only they were signed.

The New York Times

They were signed "Stalin".

The New York Times - Books

Both were signed into law.

The New York Times

On others were signed footballs.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were signed", ensure that the context clearly indicates who or what entity performed the signing action, even if it's implied. This helps maintain clarity and avoids ambiguity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "were signed" in a way that obscures who actually signed the document or agreement. If the signer is important to the context, rephrase the sentence to make the actor explicit: "The agreement was signed by the CEO."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were signed" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject of the sentence received the action of signing. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this structure is grammatically sound and widely used. The agent performing the action (the signer) may or may not be explicitly stated.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were signed" is a grammatically correct and frequently used passive construction that signifies the formal endorsement or validation of something, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It appears most commonly in news and media, scientific, and academic contexts. When employing this phrase, it's crucial to ensure clarity by either explicitly stating or clearly implying the actor performing the signing action. While generally neutral to professional, its formality level ultimately depends on the source. Several alternatives, such as "were ratified" and "were approved", can be used to convey similar meanings, depending on the specific nuances you wish to emphasize.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were ratified

Implies formal confirmation or approval, often by a governing body.

were approved

Indicates that something has been officially sanctioned or agreed upon.

were authorized

Emphasizes the granting of official permission or power.

were endorsed

Suggests support or approval, often publicly.

were executed

Focuses on the completion or performance of a contract or agreement.

were formalized

Highlights the process of making something official or legally binding.

were validated

Implies confirmation of correctness or legitimacy.

were contracted

Focuses on agreements achieved through legal contracts.

were sealed

Suggests a final and binding agreement, often with a sense of ceremony.

were concluded

Emphasizes the completion of negotiations or discussions leading to an agreement.

FAQs

How to use "were signed" in a sentence?

"Were signed" indicates that something was officially endorsed or agreed upon. For example, "The contracts "were signed" by both parties" means both parties formally approved the contracts.

What can I say instead of "were signed"?

You can use alternatives like "were ratified", "were approved", or "were endorsed" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "were signed" or "was signed"?

"Were signed" is used for plural subjects, while "was signed" is used for singular subjects. For example, "The contracts were signed" (plural) versus "The document was signed" (singular).

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

"Were signed" indicates a simple past passive action, while "had been signed" indicates a past perfect passive action. The latter implies the signing occurred before another point in the past. Example: "The contracts were signed yesterday" vs. "The contracts had been signed before the meeting started".