were visited

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were visited" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are describing an action that happened in the past, specifically when referring to multiple subjects that received visits. Example: "The historical sites were visited by thousands of tourists last summer."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nine were visited or reached by phone.

The New York Times

"Yes, we were visited by one Barack Obama," he said.

The New York Times

Well, first we were visited by a plague of rodents.

The Guardian

monitor which websites were visited.

BBC

All centres were visited twice.

Intensive Care Medicine Experimental

In all 150 farms were visited.

Agricultural Systems

Households were visited twice weekly until recovery.

The Journal of Pediatrics

Selected households were visited unannounced (cold-calling).

The Journal of Headache and Pain

During intervention process, different places were visited.

International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy

Three hundred Web documents were visited and evaluated.

American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics

Sites were visited between February, 2011 and September, 2011.

Accident Analysis & Prevention

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were visited" when describing a past action where multiple subjects received visits. Ensure the context clearly indicates who or what performed the visiting action, even if it's implied.

Common error

Avoid using "was visited" when referring to multiple subjects. "Was visited" is singular; use "were visited" for plural subjects to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were visited" functions as a passive voice construction in the past tense. This indicates that the subject of the sentence received the action of visiting, rather than performing it. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

62%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were visited" is a grammatically correct and very common passive voice construction used to describe past events where entities received visits. Predominantly found in scientific, news and business contexts, it serves to emphasize the recipients of the action. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. To enhance clarity, ensure the subject-verb agreement and consider context-appropriate alternatives like "were toured" or "received visitors" to refine your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were toured

Focuses on a structured exploration, implying a guided or comprehensive viewing.

were inspected

Highlights a formal examination or assessment.

were surveyed

Indicates a data collection process through observation or questioning.

were checked

Suggests a routine verification or confirmation.

received visitors

Shifts focus to the act of receiving, rather than being visited.

were called upon

Suggests a formal or official visit, often for a specific purpose.

were frequented

Indicates habitual or regular visits by many people.

were haunted

Implies the location experienced supernatural activity or visitation.

were stopped at

Implies a brief or casual visit as part of a larger journey.

were accessed

Highlights the act of gaining entry or reaching a location.

FAQs

How can I use "were visited" in a sentence?

Use "were visited" to describe locations, people, or entities that received visits in the past. For example, "The museums /s/were+visited by thousands of tourists" or "The patients /s/were+visited at their homes by nurses".

What are some alternatives to using "were visited"?

Depending on the specific context, alternatives include "were toured", "were inspected", or "received visitors". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "was visited" instead of "were visited"?

"Was visited" is used for singular subjects, while "were visited" is used for plural subjects. For example, "The museum was visited" is correct, while "The museums were visited" is correct.

What is the difference between "were visited" and "had been visited"?

"Were visited" indicates a simple past passive action. "Had been visited" indicates a past perfect passive action, implying the visit occurred before another point in the past. For example, "The sites were visited last year" versus "The sites had been visited before the renovations began".