Used and loved by millions
Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
changes was below
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "changes was below" is not correct in English.
Did you mean "changes were below"? If this is the case, you can use it to describe a situation where modifications or alterations are positioned lower than a certain point or reference in a text or data set. Example: "The report indicated that the changes were below the expected levels of performance."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
Science
News & Media
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
1 human-written examples
Furthermore, the number of significant endogenous metabolite changes was below or at the false positive rate for all treatments in both sexes.
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
59 human-written examples
Protein measurement showed also a slightly reduced level of p16 in MM-BMMSCs but this change was below 1.5-fold.
Science
Based on earlier meta-analysis (Hendry and Kinnison 1999; Kinnison and Hendry 2001; Hendry et al. 2008), these authors conclude that most rates of change are below 0.1.
Science
But under this proposal, plants could make whatever changes they wanted without scrutiny, as long as the cost of the changes were below a certain level.
News & Media
Some reactions to the new Facebook changes are below.
News & Media
In NaphS2, both gene and protein expression levels of BamB-I are increased during benzoate metabolism and decreased during naphthalene metabolism, although some expression fold changes were below 2-fold.
Science
After EQAPs, 73% 84% of the changes were below the baseline.
Science
Moreover, metabolomics changes were below the threshold of effects.
Science
bThe detected absorbance changes were below 0.02 absThe activities were too low for reliable quantification.
Science
Some control experiments were carried out with 5 s relaxation delay and the observed peak volume changes were below 5%%.
Despite the use of highly sensitive assays for DNA damage responses, it remains possible that genetic changes are induced by low dose-rate radiation, but that such changes are below the limits of detection for the assays used.
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Always ensure verb agreement. Use "changes were below" instead of "changes was below" to maintain grammatical correctness.
Common error
Avoid using the singular verb form "was" with the plural subject "changes". Always use the plural verb form "were" for correct grammar.
Source & Trust
82%
Authority and reliability
1.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "changes was below" is intended to function as a descriptive statement, indicating that certain alterations or modifications did not exceed a particular level or threshold. However, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI flags it, indicating the verb-subject disagreement.
Frequent in
Science
70%
News & Media
20%
Encyclopedias
10%
Less common in
Formal & Business
0%
Reference
0%
Wiki
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "changes was below" is grammatically incorrect due to the subject-verb disagreement. The correct form is "changes were below". While Ludwig examples show the phrase appearing in varied contexts, including scientific and news sources, it's crucial to use the accurate grammatical form in writing. This ensures clarity and credibility. As Ludwig AI indicates, the incorrect conjugation detracts from the message. The related phrases, such as "changes were less than", offer grammatically sound alternatives for conveying the intended meaning.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
changes were less than
Corrects the verb conjugation to reflect the plural subject "changes".
modifications were under
Replaces "changes" with "modifications" and "below" with "under".
alterations were beneath
Substitutes "changes" for "alterations" and "below" for "beneath".
the change was under
Uses the singular "change" instead of the plural "changes".
the variations were within
Replaces "changes" with "variations" and alters the phrasing to indicate containment within a range.
fluctuations remained under
Changes "changes" to "fluctuations" to specify the kind of change.
the adjustments were less than
Substitutes "changes" for "adjustments".
the extent of change was below
Specifies that the degree or magnitude of the change was below a limit.
the level of alterations was below
Changes the noun to "level" to add more emphasis on the amount of alterations.
the degree of modification was under
Specifies that the amount of modification was under the defined threshold.
FAQs
What is the correct way to say "changes was below"?
The grammatically correct way to phrase this is "changes were below". The plural subject "changes" requires the plural verb "were".
What does it mean when "changes were below" a certain level?
It means that the amount or extent of the changes did not reach or exceed a specified threshold. For example, "The "changes were less than expected"".
Can I use "change was below" instead of "changes was below"?
Yes, but it changes the meaning. "Change was below" uses the singular noun "change" and refers to a single alteration, while "changes were below" refers to multiple alterations.
What are some alternatives to saying "changes were below"?
Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "modifications were under", "alterations were beneath", or "variations were within".
Editing plus AI, all in one place.
Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
82%
Authority and reliability
1.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested