were tasked with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'were tasked with' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a particular job or responsibility given to someone or something. For example: "The students were tasked with completing the project by the end of the week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The two men were tasked with accompanying Hitler everywhere.

The New York Times

Trusts were tasked with ensuring 98% of patients were seen in this time.

The Guardian

The men of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment were tasked with damping down a growing insurgency.

The Guardian

On Monday, the authorities were tasked with deciding how exactly to cover the statues.

The New York Times

Just 14 minutes later our celebrities were tasked with their first "Bushtooker trials".

Independent

Recent college graduates were tasked with rigging up a Western-style government.

The New York Times - Books

With Clint Dempsey also starting, 33-year-old strikers were tasked with exploiting perhaps Argentina's only potential weakness, central defence.

The Guardian - Sport

The jury were tasked with weighing "aggravating factors" against "mitigating factors" in deciding whether to send Tsarnaev to his death.

The Guardian

It merely means that the ancient Hebrews were tasked with setting a good example, through deeds, for others.

The New York Times - Books

In episode 10, our teams were tasked with selecting items to sell on a TV shopping channel.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Between May 1997 and July 2012, more than 260 "tsars" were tasked with overseeing a huge range of government policies.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were tasked with" when you want to clearly indicate that a specific responsibility or job was assigned to someone or a group. It suggests a deliberate act of delegation.

Common error

Avoid using the present tense ("are tasked with") when referring to a past event. Ensure the tense aligns with the time frame of the assignment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were tasked with" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that the subject received a specific assignment or responsibility. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in conveying delegated duties.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Wiki

16%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were tasked with" is a versatile phrase used to indicate the assignment of a specific responsibility or duty. Grammatically correct and very common, as affirmed by Ludwig, it appears frequently in news, scientific, and general writing. While interchangeable with alternatives like "were assigned to" or "were charged with", its usage implies a formal act of delegation. To avoid common errors, ensure the tense aligns with the time frame of the assignment. The numerous examples provided by Ludwig highlight its broad applicability across various contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were assigned to

Focuses on the act of allocation of a task or duty.

were charged with

Suggests a formal assignment, often with a degree of responsibility or accountability.

were given the responsibility of

Emphasizes the burden or expectation placed on someone.

were entrusted with

Implies a level of trust and confidence in the person assigned.

were delegated to

Highlights the act of passing down a task from a superior.

had the duty to

Stresses the obligatory nature of the assigned task.

were commissioned to

Signifies a formal authorization to carry out a specific task.

were appointed to

Highlights the selection or designation of someone for a specific role or task.

were responsible for

Focuses on the accountability for the successful completion of a task.

were authorized to

Indicates that someone has been given the power or permission to perform a specific action.

FAQs

How to use "were tasked with" in a sentence?

Use "were tasked with" to indicate that someone or a group was given a specific responsibility or assignment in the past. For example, "The engineers "were tasked with" designing a new bridge".

What can I say instead of "were tasked with"?

You can use alternatives like "were assigned to", "were charged with", or "were given the responsibility of" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "were tasked with" or "was tasked with"?

"Were tasked with" is used for plural subjects, while "was tasked with" is used for singular subjects. For example, "The team "were tasked with" the project", but "The lead engineer "was tasked with" overseeing the project".

What's the difference between "were tasked with" and "had to"?

"Were tasked with" implies a formal assignment or delegation of responsibility, while "had to" simply indicates an obligation or necessity. "Were tasked with" suggests a specific instruction, whereas "had to" can arise from various circumstances.