were understood that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were understood that" is not correct in English.
Did you mean "were understood to be"? If this is the case, you can use it when indicating that something was perceived or interpreted in a certain way by a group of people. Example: "The terms of the agreement were understood to be binding by all parties involved."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The roads were modern but heavily divoted, as if it were understood that they would all be torn up again soon anyway.

The New Yorker

"It never came up," Durant said recently in Los Angeles, as if it were understood that serpents did not offer apples to young stars with unlined faces and wide-eyed countenances.

The New York Times - Sports

7 It was only once the wide-ranging roles of serotonin and noradrenaline in the central and peripheral nervous systems were understood that a common neuro-biochemical etiology could be appreciated, and the dual efficacy of duloxetine in depression and pain plus incontinence could be explained.

Clinical interventions in aging

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"Being heard and being understood – that was really important.

Independent

It is understood that was how his resignation as manager was initially delivered to the chairman.

The Guardian - Sport

He's understood that.

The New York Times - Sports

It is understood that person is Brooks.

The Guardian

It was understood that there was something charming about me.

The New Yorker

It is understood that there was no formal vote.

The Guardian - Business

It is understood that Mitchell was close to retirement age.

The Guardian

It is understood that April 20 is the target date.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "were understood that" in formal writing. Use "it was understood that" or "it was understood to be" instead.

Common error

Ensure subject-verb agreement. "Were" is plural; use "was" with singular subjects like "it". For example, prefer "it was understood that" over "were understood that".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were understood that" functions as an attempt to introduce a subordinate clause expressing a shared understanding or agreement. However, according to Ludwig AI, the construction is grammatically incorrect and needs adjustment to be considered as standard English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were understood that" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI analysis indicates that it's a rare construction with issues in subject-verb agreement. The correct form is typically "it was understood that" or "it was understood to be". While it appears in various contexts, especially in News & Media and Science, using a grammatically sound alternative is crucial for maintaining clarity and credibility in writing. Therefore, writers should favor the alternatives to avoid miscommunication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was understood to be

Adds "to be" for grammatical correctness.

it was understood that

Focus shifts to a specific subject implied by "it".

it is understood that

Changes the tense to present indicating current understanding

it has been understood that

Uses the present perfect tense, highlighting the duration of understanding.

it had been understood that

Uses the past perfect tense, focusing on a prior understanding.

was understood that

Removes the plural form "were" for singular agreement.

they understood that

Specifies the actors who had the understanding.

it is known that

Replaces "understood" with "known", indicating widespread knowledge.

everyone understood that

Highlights the scope of understanding to include a general agreement.

it is believed that

Replaces "understood" with "believed", implying a belief rather than a fact.

FAQs

What's grammatically wrong with "were understood that"?

The phrase "were understood that" incorrectly uses the plural verb "were" with an implied singular subject. The correct form would typically be "it was understood that".

What can I say instead of "were understood that"?

Consider using alternatives such as "it was understood that", "it is understood that", or "it was understood to be".

How to use "it was understood that" in a sentence?

You can use "it was understood that" to indicate a common agreement or expectation. For example: "It was understood that the project deadline would be extended".

Which is correct: "were understood that" or "it was understood that"?

"It was understood that" is the grammatically correct option. "Were understood that" is generally considered incorrect in standard English.