were won

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were won" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in the past tense to indicate that something was achieved or obtained, often in the context of competitions, awards, or battles. Example: "The championship titles were won by the team after a hard-fought season."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Many medals were won.

The Economist

Tackles were won.

The Guardian - Sport

The medals were won.

The New York Times - Sports

Three titles were won on Friday.

The New York Times

In the process, supporters were won.

The New York Times

The parents laughed and were won over.

The New Yorker

Some cases were won, some were lost.

The Guardian

In the end, no medals were won.

The Guardian - Sport

Even the sceptics were won over.

The Guardian - Sport

None were won by his son, however.

The New York Times

Suddenly, critics were won over again.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were won", ensure the subject clearly identifies what was achieved. For example, "The elections were won by the Labour Party" provides clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "were won" with a singular subject. For example, instead of "The game were won", use "The game was won".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were won" functions as a passive voice construction indicating that a subject received or achieved something. As Ludwig AI highlights, this construction is grammatically sound and commonly used in various contexts. For example, medals or elections can be subjects.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Wiki

13%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were won" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction that indicates an achievement or victory has been obtained. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's most commonly found in news and media sources, with a neutral to formal register. When using "were won", ensure proper subject-verb agreement and clarity in specifying what was achieved. While alternatives such as "had been achieved" or "were secured" exist, "were won" remains a direct and widely understood way to express past accomplishments. Remember to use "was won" for singular subjects and "were won" for plural subjects for correct usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been achieved

Focuses on the accomplishment aspect, employing a perfect tense for emphasis.

had been attained

Highlights the reaching or obtaining of a certain goal or standard.

were secured

Emphasizes the effort put into protecting or guaranteeing the victory or prize.

were captured

Suggests seizing or gaining something, often with a competitive element.

were earned

Highlights the merit or deservingness of the achievement.

were obtained

Focuses on the process of getting or acquiring something.

were claimed

Implies asserting a right or title to something that has been won.

were seized

Suggests taking hold of an opportunity or prize quickly and decisively.

were clinched

Implies securing a victory or deal, often in a final or decisive moment.

were brought home

Emphasizes the successful completion of a task or winning of a competition, often used in sports.

FAQs

How do I use "were won" in a sentence?

Use "were won" to indicate that something was achieved or obtained through effort. For example, "The championship titles "were won" by the team after a hard-fought season".

What are some alternatives to "were won"?

Alternatives include "were achieved", "were secured", or "were attained", depending on the context.

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

The correct usage depends on the subject. Use "was won" for singular subjects (e.g., "The award was won") and "were won" for plural subjects (e.g., "The awards "were won"").

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

"Were won" indicates a simple past passive action, while "had been won" indicates a past perfect passive action, referring to something that was won before another point in the past. For example, "The battle "were won" last year" vs. "The battle had been won before the treaty was signed".