There existed

USAGE SUMMARY

"There existed" is grammatically correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when talking about past events, states, or circumstances that no longer exist. For example, "There existed a great diversity of opinion over the matter."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

After him, there existed a functioning system of government.

The Economist

Third, in Mesopotamia there existed a stable technology for recording data the clay tablet.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Yet 600 years before The Thousand and One Nights, there existed a book just as extraordinary.

The Guardian - Books

As shown in Figure 1, there existed three kinds of patterns for this polymerization.

Nanoscale Research Letters

The Soviet Union had already invaded Afghanistan, and there existed the threat of it invading Poland.

Forbes

Several days before Isabel made landfall, there existed uncertainty in where the hurricane would strike.

Wikipedia

In other words, regardless of the Statute, there existed a perpetual copyright under the common law.

Wikipedia

Within the Jewish community, particularly in Egypt and Palestine, there existed a minority of Karaites.

Wikipedia

Under the umbrella of Civic Forum there existed one rightist party, the Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA).

Huffington Post

"I wanted to create a better frosting because nothing out there existed.

Huffington Post

Before natural selection there existed physics, chemistry and geology.

Biology Direct

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "there existed" to introduce a fact or situation that was true at a specific point in the past but may not be true anymore. This can add a layer of historical context to your writing.

Common error

While grammatically sound, "there existed" can sound overly formal or archaic in modern writing. Consider using simpler alternatives like "there was" or "there were" unless you specifically want to create a historical or formal tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there existed" functions as an existential clause, asserting the presence or occurrence of something in the past. Ludwig examples confirm its use in introducing historical facts or past conditions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "there existed" is a grammatically correct way to indicate the presence or occurrence of something in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its validity for describing past events, states, or circumstances that no longer hold true. While it appears in various contexts, it's more common in formal and scientific writing than in casual conversation. The authoritative sources, such as The New York Times and scientific journals, validate its usage. While "there existed" is correct, consider using simpler alternatives like "there was" or "there were" for a more modern tone unless you specifically aim for formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there was

This alternative is a more common and simpler way to express existence in the past.

there were

This alternative is the plural form of "there was", used when referring to multiple entities.

there used to be

This alternative emphasizes a past state that is no longer present.

once there was

This alternative is often used to begin stories or to evoke a sense of nostalgia.

in the past there was

This alternative explicitly places the existence in the past.

previously there was

This alternative highlights the chronological order, indicating something existed before.

there happened to be

This alternative suggests an element of chance or unexpectedness.

it was the case that there was

This alternative is a more formal and emphatic way to state existence.

back then, there was

This alternative emphasizes a specific period in the past.

at one time, there was

This alternative highlights a particular point in time when something existed.

FAQs

How can I use "there existed" in a sentence?

"There existed" is used to indicate that something was present or a fact in the past. For example, "Before the modern era, "there existed" a great diversity of opinion over the matter."

What's the difference between "there existed" and "there was"?

While both indicate past existence, "there existed" often implies a more formal or literary tone. "There was" is generally more common and less stylized.

Which is correct, "there existed" or "there exists"?

"There existed" refers to the past, while "there exists" refers to the present. The correct choice depends on the time frame you're describing.

What are some alternatives to using "there existed" in my writing?

You can use alternatives like "there was", "there used to be", or "once there was", depending on the context.