children were practicing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "children were practicing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an ongoing action where children are engaged in practice, such as in sports, music, or any skill development. Example: "The children were practicing their dance routine for the upcoming recital."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

No women with very young children were practicing exclusive breastfeeding - nothing but breast milk since birth.

Unicef

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

So-called pox parties, where parents would arrange play dates with infected children, were practiced before the introduction of the varicella, or chickenpox, vaccine in 1995.

The New York Times

The children are practicing a play written by one of them.

The New York Times

How wonderful that stressed-out executives and hyperactive children are practicing "mindfulness".

Huffington Post

70% of the children are practicing hygiene and washing their hands after latrine use, and before eating.

Unicef

A black child is practicing his basketball moves in a laundry room and a white woman compliments him on his athletic skill.

The New York Times

With spring-break vacations fashionable for younger and younger students, "a lot of parents tell me they are glad that their child is practicing over spring break," he said.

The New York Times

Create or find text with several of the sight words your child is practicing.

WikiHow

When she arrived, the children – including Jahanara – were practicing their weekly music lesson under the guidance of a teacher.

Unicef

Children have been practicing for a performance that will take place on the stage that is the Plaza de la Revolución.

The New York Times

I believe you can achieve your dreams --  and I say -- Go for it!" Over 7,500 children have been practicing for weeks to break the current world record for simultaneously bouncing basket balls, which was set in Indiana, USA, in September 2007.

Unicef

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "children were practicing" to clearly indicate that children were actively engaged in rehearsing or honing a skill. This is suitable for describing activities ranging from sports to music to academic exercises.

Common error

Avoid using passive voice constructions when describing children's activities. Instead of saying "practice was being done by the children", use the active voice: "children were practicing".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "children were practicing" functions as a verb phrase indicating an ongoing action in the past performed by children. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. The examples show its versatile use across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "children were practicing" is a grammatically sound and versatile expression used to describe ongoing activities of children rehearsing or developing skills. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s acceptable for use in different situations. It appears frequently in news, business, and scientific contexts, indicating its wide applicability. When writing, ensure it accurately reflects an ongoing action in the past and avoid less direct constructions like passive voice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

kids trained

Replaces "practicing" with "trained", implying a more structured or intense form of preparation. Additionally, replaces 'children' with 'kids', making it more informal.

youth rehearsed

Uses "rehearsed" instead of "practicing", specifically suggesting preparation for a performance. Plus, "youth" is employed instead of "children".

youngsters prepared

Employs "prepared" to indicate readiness through practice, coupled with "youngsters" as a synonym for "children".

children honed their skills

Shifts the focus to skill development, replacing the continuous tense with a more direct statement of improvement.

children underwent practice

Changes the structure to emphasize the act of practice itself, rather than the children's active participation.

children engaged in rehearsal

Replaces "practicing" with the more formal "engaged in rehearsal", suggesting a structured setting.

children drilled

Uses "drilled" to convey repetitive and rigorous practice, often in a military or emergency context.

children were in training

Highlights that the children were in a training program. Training suggests more thorough instruction.

children perfected

Indicates achieving high level of proficiency through practice.

children studied

Replaces "practicing" with "studied", implying a more academic approach to learning.

FAQs

How can I use "children were practicing" in a sentence?

You can use "children were practicing" to describe any scenario where children are actively rehearsing or training for something. For example, "The "children were practicing" their lines for the school play" or "The "children were practicing" soccer drills after school".

What are some alternatives to "children were practicing"?

Alternatives include phrases like "kids trained", "youth rehearsed", or "youngsters prepared", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is "children were practicing" grammatically correct?

Yes, "children were practicing" is grammatically correct. It uses the plural noun "children" with the past progressive tense of the verb "practice", indicating an ongoing action in the past.

What's the difference between "children practiced" and "children were practicing"?

"Children practiced" implies a completed action or a general habit, while ""children were practicing"" indicates an ongoing action in the past. For instance, "Children practiced their songs yesterday" versus ""children were practicing" their songs when I arrived".