were victims to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were victims to" is not correct in standard written English; the correct expression is "were victims of." You can use it when discussing individuals or groups who have suffered harm or injustice due to a particular cause or event.
Example: "Many communities were victims of the natural disaster that struck last year."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Suddenly I realized that the S.E.C. was right: there were victims to be found from Jonathan Lebed's life on the Internet.

The New York Times - Magazine

Although the birds collected were victims to kite injuries, the concentration reported in the present study may cause sublethal effects.

BioMed Research International

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

He said: "I'm a victim, you are a victim, there are thousands in this country that are victims to this discrimination, this victimisation of the British worker".

The Guardian - Business

The present study describes the prevalence of trainee teachers being victims to bullying and distinguishes between different types of bullying within a cross-sectional design.

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences

Of course we were not put into this life to be victims to time.

Huffington Post

Most are victims to their culture and often pulled from the lower classes themselves.

Huffington Post

Our sympathies are with the children who have been victims to this abuse.

Unicef

Children are victims to more than half of mine incidents in the country.

Unicef

How many industries in Baghdad have been victim to similar forms of havoc?

The Guardian

Neuroscience has joined company with other totalizing worldviews — Marxism, Freudianism, critical theory — that have been victim to overuse and misapplication.

The New York Times

We can't let prize educators like Joyce Irvine be victim to the perils of bureaucracy and one-sided judgment.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct phrase "were victims of" when describing individuals or groups who have suffered harm.

Common error

Avoid using "to" after "were victims". The correct preposition to use is "of". Remember, it's always "victims of" something, not "victims to" something.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were victims to" is intended to function as a verb phrase, describing a state of being affected negatively by something. However, Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "were victims of".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were victims to" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "were victims of". While examples exist in various sources such as News & Media and Science, as shown by Ludwig, it's essential to use the grammatically correct form to maintain clarity and credibility. Remember to use alternatives such as "were subjected to" or "suffered from" when conveying the same meaning with correct grammar.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fell victim to

This alternative uses a more idiomatic expression to convey a similar meaning.

suffered from

This alternative focuses on the experience of enduring negative effects.

were subjected to

This alternative emphasizes the act of being exposed to something negative.

were harmed by

This alternative directly states that damage or injury occurred.

were casualties of

This alternative uses a stronger term, often implying significant loss or damage.

were exposed to

This alternative highlights the state of being open to a harmful influence.

were injured by

This alternative specifically refers to physical or emotional wounds.

were prey to

This alternative suggests a vulnerability to exploitation or harm.

were affected by

This alternative is a general way to express being influenced negatively.

were exploited by

This alternative highlights the act of being taken advantage of.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "were victims to"?

The correct phrase is "were victims of". For example, "They were victims of the scam".

What can I say instead of "were victims to"?

You can use alternatives like "were subjected to", "suffered from", or "fell victim to".

Is "were victims to" grammatically correct?

No, "were victims to" is grammatically incorrect. The proper expression is "were victims of".

What's the difference between "were victims to" and "were victims of"?

"Were victims to" is not grammatically correct. The correct and widely accepted phrase is "were victims of".