which were delivered

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "which were delivered" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to items or information that have been sent or provided in the past. Example: "The documents, which were delivered yesterday, contain all the necessary information for the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The RAF now has 71 Typhoon aircraft, which were delivered in two tranches.

The Guardian

Assad has yet to respond to the western statements, which were delivered on Thursday.

The Guardian

He ordered up champagne and 3 glasses which were delivered by a young, sloppily-dress boy.

The New Yorker

They suffered repeated blows to their bodies and heads, some of which were delivered by a weapon, probably a hammer.

The Guardian

Religious themes are to be found in the khuṭbahs, or Friday sermons, which were delivered by governors of the provinces.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He was a talker, not a chalker, eschewing the tactics board in favour of flamboyant motivational speeches, which were delivered with both players and fans in mind.

The Guardian - Sport

The reports, which were delivered before the end of the year, highlighted the role that segregation had played in fostering animosity between white and Asian citizens.

The Guardian

The real masterstroke, though, was the purchase of a hundred Flip video cameras, which were delivered to the on-campus interns themselves with a minimum of instructions.

The New York Times - Magazine

Two years ago the Town Board voted unanimously to restore both documents, which were delivered to the Northeast Document Conservation Center in Andover, Mass., for the work.

The New York Times

She was inspirational both by example and through her lectures, which were delivered with clarity and confidence despite her finding public speaking stressful.

Independent

Volunteers from the Support Black Taxis have spent the last few weeks appealing for and gathering Christmas presents for the capital's homeless people, which were delivered on Monday.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "which were delivered", ensure that the clause is nonrestrictive and adds extra information that isn't essential to the sentence's core meaning. Use commas to set off the "which" clause.

Common error

Avoid using "which" in restrictive clauses, which are essential to the meaning of the sentence. In such cases, use "that" instead. A helpful trick is to consider whether the information is necessary to identify the noun. If so, use "that"; if it's additional information, use "which."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which were delivered" functions as a relative clause, providing additional, non-essential information about a noun. It commonly modifies nouns to specify characteristics or details about items or information that have been transported or provided.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "which were delivered" is a common relative clause used to add non-essential details about something that has been provided or transported. It is grammatically correct and frequently found in news, scientific and formal contexts, as noted by Ludwig. When using this phrase, ensure it modifies the noun correctly and is set off with commas when it is nonrestrictive. While "that were delivered" is a valid alternative, "which were delivered" maintains a slightly more formal tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that were delivered

Uses "that" instead of "which" as a relative pronoun, resulting in a slightly less formal tone.

that have been delivered

Shifts to the present perfect tense, focusing on the current state of having been delivered.

which had been delivered

Uses the past perfect tense, emphasizing that the delivery happened before another point in the past.

that were supplied

Replaces "delivered" with "supplied", indicating provision rather than direct transport.

which were provided

Substitutes "delivered" with "provided", highlighting the act of making something available.

which were issued

Replaces "delivered" with "issued", suggesting a formal release or distribution.

that were dispatched

Uses "dispatched" instead of "delivered", focusing on the act of sending something off.

which were shipped

Substitutes "delivered" with "shipped", emphasizing transportation by a specific carrier.

that were presented

Replaces "delivered" with "presented", focusing on the act of showing or offering something.

which were administered

Substitutes "delivered" with "administered", suggesting a formal process of giving or applying something.

FAQs

How do I use "which were delivered" in a sentence?

Use "which were delivered" in nonrestrictive clauses to add extra, non-essential information. For example: "The packages, "which were delivered" yesterday, contained the necessary supplies."

What can I say instead of "which were delivered"?

You can use alternatives like "that were delivered", "that have been delivered", or "which were supplied" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "that were delivered" instead of "which were delivered"?

While both are grammatically acceptable, "which were delivered" is typically used in nonrestrictive clauses, and "that were delivered" in restrictive clauses. Consider the essentiality of the clause to the sentence's meaning.

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

"Which were delivered" implies a past action. "Which had been delivered", on the other hand, uses the past perfect tense to indicate that the delivery occurred before another point in the past. The choice depends on the timeline you're establishing.