many were

USAGE SUMMARY

"many were" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is commonly used to indicate a large number of people or things. Example: Many were excited to attend the concert.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Many were.

The Economist

Many were built.

The Economist

Many were postdocs.

The Economist

Many were traumatized.

The New York Times

I doubt many were.

The Guardian - Opinion

Many were federal employees.

The New York Times - Sports

But many were prepared.

The Economist

Many were detained illegally.

The Economist

Many were teen-agers.

The New Yorker

But many were smiling.

The New York Times - Sports

Yet many were puzzled.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "many were" when you want to indicate a large, unspecified number of people or things that share a common attribute or experience. Ensure the context clearly identifies the group being referred to.

Common error

Avoid using "many were" when the group being referenced is already a small or limited set. It's more appropriate when the potential number is large and only a portion is being highlighted.

Linguistic Context

"Many were" acts as a quantifier followed by a linking verb, functioning to indicate that a significant number of entities possessed a certain attribute or experienced a specific state. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is a grammatically sound and commonly used construction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Encyclopedias

10%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

3%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "many were" functions as a versatile quantifier indicating a significant, but unspecified, number of entities sharing a common trait or experience. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage, particularly in news and media contexts. While neutral in register, it's crucial to use it when referring to a potentially large group. Related phrases like "a lot of people were" or "numerous individuals were" can offer nuanced alternatives depending on the desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a lot of people were

Replaces "many" with "a lot of people", emphasizing the quantity of individuals.

numerous individuals were

Substitutes "many" with a more formal term, "numerous individuals", increasing the level of formality.

a significant number were

Highlights that the amount is substantial or important.

quite a few were

Uses "quite a few" instead of "many", suggesting a smaller but still significant number.

a large proportion were

Emphasizes the considerable fraction of the whole that the group represents.

a substantial amount were

Highlights the considerable size of the number.

a good number of them were

Rephrases to emphasize that a significant portion of a group was in a particular state or condition.

several of them were

Similar to "a good number", but implies a slightly smaller quantity with "several".

a great deal were

Suggests that the amount is considerable or substantial.

a majority of them were

Indicates that more than half of the group was in a specific state.

FAQs

How can I use "many were" in a sentence?

"Many were" is used to indicate that a large, unspecified number of people or things shared a particular characteristic or experience. For example, "Many were disappointed by the ending of the movie."

What are some alternatives to using "many were"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "a lot of people were", "numerous individuals were", or "quite a few were" as alternatives to "many were".

Is there a difference in formality between "many were" and its alternatives?

Yes. "Many were" is generally neutral in tone. Alternatives like "numerous individuals were" are more formal, while phrases like "a lot of people were" are more informal.

Can "many were" be used to refer to both people and objects?

Yes, "many were" can refer to both people and objects, as long as the context makes it clear what is being referred to. For example, "Many were injured" (people) or "Many were damaged" (objects).