everything were

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "everything were" is not correct and usable in written English.
The correct expression to use would be "everything was". For example: "Everything was going according to plan until a surprise storm rolled in."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

If everything were beautiful, nothing would be.

Independent

He behaves as if everything were normal.

The New Yorker

I realized the mountains and everything were in the background.

The New York Times

We all acted as if everything were perfectly normal.

The New York Times

If everything were done in moderation, everything would be great.

The Guardian - Sport

"The walls and everything were finished," Ms. Thomas said.

The New York Times

I tried to behave as if everything were just fine.

The New York Times - Magazine

It would set us off laughing as though everything were all right.

The New Yorker

But those told that the computer would record everything were inclined promptly to forget them.

The New York Times

For six months, she went on with her life as if everything were normal.

The New York Times

"In a sense, it would be easier if everything were contagion," he says.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "was" with "everything" to ensure grammatical correctness. "Everything" is singular and requires a singular verb.

Common error

Avoid using "were" with "everything". The correct conjugation is "everything was". For example, instead of saying "Everything were ready", say "Everything was ready".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "everything were" functions as a subject and verb within a clause. However, it's grammatically incorrect because "everything" is a singular pronoun and should be paired with the singular verb "was". Ludwig AI points out this grammatical error.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

11%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "everything were" appears frequently in various sources, it is grammatically incorrect. "Everything" is a singular pronoun and requires the singular verb "was"; therefore, the correct form is "everything was". Ludwig AI identifies this error, emphasizing the importance of using the correct verb conjugation. While the phrase is very common, its incorrect usage impacts its overall quality and expert rating. When writing, ensure you use "everything was" to maintain grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

everything was

Corrects the grammatical error by using the singular verb form.

all things were

Rephrases with a slightly different emphasis, focusing on 'all things'.

every aspect was

Focuses on 'aspect', implying a comprehensive view.

each detail was

Highlights individual details instead of the collective 'everything'.

the entirety was

Emphasizes the complete or whole nature of something.

the situation was

Replaces "everything" with a focus on the overall state or circumstances.

the whole thing was

Uses a more informal term 'thing' to represent the complete scenario.

every item was

Specifies that each individual item or element is being considered.

the world was

Presents a broad, encompassing view of the 'world'.

the universe was

Replaces "everything" with a sense of the infinite.

FAQs

What is the correct grammatical form, "everything was" or "everything were"?

"Everything was" is the grammatically correct form. "Everything" is singular and requires the singular verb "was".

How can I rephrase "everything were" to make it grammatically correct?

The easiest correction is to use "everything was". You can also restructure your sentence depending on the context.

Is it ever correct to use a plural verb after "everything"?

No, "everything" is always treated as a singular pronoun and requires a singular verb form.

What are some alternatives to saying "everything was"?

Depending on the context, you might use phrases like "all was", "each thing was", or specify what "everything" refers to, such as "the food was", "the music was", or "the atmosphere was".