both parents were present

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "both parents were present" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing family involvement, attendance at events, or situations where parental presence is relevant. Example: "During the school play, both parents were present to support their child on stage."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

If both parents were present at the consultation, both were included.

BMC Pediatrics

According to the nurses, the most rewarding conversations occurred when both parents were present.

BMC Pediatrics

In this study, both parents were present at the decision coaching with four of the seven families (though not all parents participated in completing questionnaires).

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

The fact that more questions were asked in our study when both parents were present may indicate a greater confidence to ask questions in a group setting.

BMC Medical Ethics

The number of parents present during the consent discussion had a large effect on participation, with questions much more likely to be asked if both parents were present (Odds ratio = 7.5).

BMC Medical Ethics

Families are also asked whether one or both parents were present at the event that caused the injury, whether the child or a parent has been confronted with a traumatic event before, and whether the child or a parent has used mental healthcare services in the past 3 years.

BMJ Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

The former variable was considered because the specialization of parental roles only occurs when both parents are present, while the latter variable was considered because it is thought that biparental care in these cichlids was an evolutionary consequence of the protection of offspring from intruders.

Wikipedia

When both parents are present in the household, the Census Bureau assumes for the purposes of its "Who's Minding the Kids?" report, that the mother is the "designated parent".

The New York Times

In "The Census Bureau Counts Fathers as 'Child Care , KJ Dell'antonia writes: When both parents are present in the household, the Census Bureau assumes for the purposes of its "Who's Minding the Kids?" report that the mother is the "designated parent".

The New York Times

This year, the language used to put the child care burden on Mom is different — she's called the "reference parent," not the "designated parent" — but "in households where both parents are present, the mother is the reference parent," so nothing has really changed).

The New York Times

In fact, research shows that the kids do like it when both parents are present.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing formally, use "both parents were present" to ensure clarity about parental involvement or attendance, especially in legal or official documentation.

Common error

Avoid assuming "parents" always refers to biological parents; specify "legal parents" or "guardians" if you need to indicate legally recognized caregivers, as "parents" might be interpreted differently.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "both parents were present" functions primarily as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun. It serves to describe a situation where the presence of both parents is a relevant factor. Ludwig AI affirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "both parents were present" is a grammatically correct and generally acceptable way to indicate that both parents were in attendance or involved in a particular situation. Ludwig AI indicates that it is valid for usage. It's most commonly found in scientific literature, news articles, and formal business communications. Alternatives such as "both caregivers attended" or "both guardians were there" can be used depending on the specific context. When using this phrase, be aware of the potential need to specify "legal parents" or "guardians" to avoid ambiguity. Overall, it's a clear and effective way to convey parental presence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

both parents were in attendance

Slightly more formal phrasing, replacing "present" with "in attendance".

both mother and father were there

Specifies the exact parental roles being referenced, adding a bit of emphasis.

both caregivers attended

Replaces "parents" with a more inclusive term, referring to anyone providing parental care.

both guardians were there

Similar to "caregivers", "guardians" broadens the scope beyond biological parents.

parents were both in attendance

Rephrases the sentence to emphasize that the parents attended the event.

both parents were on hand

Uses a more informal term, "on hand", to describe the parents' presence.

mother and father were in attendance together

Highlights attendance together, emphasizing their joint presence.

both legal parents were there

Highlights legal parental status, for instances when legality is relevant.

the two parents were in attendance

Simply a more verbose way to express the same idea, with a bit more formality.

both mums and dads were present

Uses informal and gendered terms for parents, lending a casual tone.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "both parents were present"?

You can use phrases such as "both caregivers attended", "both guardians were there", or "both mother and father were there" depending on the context.

Is it more formal to say "both parents were present" or "both parents were in attendance"?

"Both parents were in attendance" is slightly more formal than "both parents were present". The choice depends on the formality of your writing.

What does "both parents were present" imply in a research context?

In a research context, "both parents were present" often indicates that the study took measures to include both parental perspectives or that the presence of both parents might influence the outcomes being studied. This factor is useful for consideration in data analysis.

When should I use "legal guardians" instead of "both parents were present"?

Use "legal guardians" instead of "both parents were present" when you need to explicitly specify that the individuals involved are the legally recognized caregivers, particularly in situations where biological parents might not be the primary caregivers or have legal custody.