Frequently were

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Frequently were" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe actions or events that occurred often in the past. Example: "Frequently were the meetings held at the same time each week, making it easy for everyone to attend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Frequently were.

The New Yorker

More frequent painful crises and visiting the unit more frequently were positively associated with depression.

BMC Psychiatry

The cheesecakes — flavors change frequently — were too dense and not nearly creamy enough.

The New York Times

Finally, the children were asked to name groups of classmates who frequently were seen together.

The New York Times - Health

But several Orange teenagers said they frequently were able to walk into bars in town and use the vending machines.

The New York Times

Thus, our clubs, which developed athletes and planned subsequently to play them, frequently were left with empty hands.

The New York Times

The earliest cellos were developed during the 16th century and frequently were made with five strings.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Those orders frequently were violated and led in some cases to the woman's death.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The lenders were often aggressive in making loans and frequently were predatory.

The New York Times

According to the report, children who were bullied frequently were six times more likely to have a low sense of wellbeing than children who had not been bullied.

The Guardian

Mr. Fogt said the calculators used most frequently were those in the length, speed and cooking categories, although he takes no responsibility for recipes gone awry.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "Frequently were" to clearly indicate actions or states that occurred often in the past, ensuring the subject and verb agree in number.

Common error

Avoid using "frequently was" when referring to plural subjects. The correct form is "frequently were" to maintain subject-verb agreement. For example, it's correct to say "Mistakes frequently were made", not "Mistakes frequently was made".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Frequently were" functions as an auxiliary verb phrase indicating repeated or habitual actions in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in describing occurrences that took place on numerous occasions. It connects a subject with a state or action that happened repeatedly.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

42%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "Frequently were" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe recurring actions or states in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, and it appears across various contexts, including news, scientific publications, and encyclopedias. While its register is generally neutral, it can be adapted to more formal or informal writing depending on the surrounding language. Remember to use "Frequently were" with plural subjects to maintain subject-verb agreement, and consider alternatives like "were often" or "were commonly" to add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were often

Reverses the order of "frequently" and "were" while maintaining the same meaning, simply changing the emphasis slightly.

were commonly

Substitutes "frequently" with "commonly", indicating something that happened in a usual or habitual way.

were regularly

Replaces "frequently" with "regularly", suggesting actions occurred at consistent intervals.

were repeatedly

Emphasizes the repeated nature of the occurrences, highlighting the recurrence of the action.

were habitually

Implies the actions were a habit or customary behavior in the past.

were usually

Suggests that the actions occurred in most cases or under normal circumstances.

were generally

Indicates the actions were true in most instances or across a broad range of cases.

were recurrently

Highlights the recurring nature of the events, emphasizing their intermittent repetition.

occurred frequently

Changes the sentence structure to focus on the occurrence rather than the subject, using "occurred" to describe the frequency.

happened often

Uses simpler language to convey the same meaning, replacing "frequently" and "were" with "happened often".

FAQs

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

Use "Frequently were" to describe past actions or states that occurred often. For example, "The meetings "frequently were" held on Mondays".

What are some alternatives to "Frequently were"?

Alternatives include "were often", "were commonly", or "were regularly". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to use "Frequently was" instead of "Frequently were"?

No, "Frequently was" is incorrect when referring to plural subjects. Use "Frequently were" to ensure subject-verb agreement. For example, "The errors "frequently were" overlooked" is correct.

What's the difference between "Frequently were" and "Often were"?

"Frequently were" and "often were" are very similar. "Frequently" implies a higher degree of repetition or regularity than "often", but they are largely interchangeable.