multiple soldiers were

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "multiple soldiers were" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a situation involving more than one soldier in a past context. Example: "Multiple soldiers were deployed to the region to assist with humanitarian efforts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

There are conflicting witness reports, with some villagers saying that multiple soldiers were involved, perhaps drunk.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Multiple Iraqi soldiers were willing to work with the Americans, and some U.S. military commanders wanted to keep the institution alive, but those messages went ignored, Filkins wrote earlier this year.

Huffington Post

Eight soldiers were dead.

The New York Times

Two soldiers were killed.

The New Yorker

Two soldiers were crucified.

The New Yorker

Soldiers were everywhere.

The New York Times - Health

The soldiers were younger.

The New Yorker

Thirteen soldiers were slain.

The New Yorker

Their soldiers were unmatched.

The New York Times

Nine American soldiers were wounded.

The New York Times

Five soldiers were reported killed.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing an event involving soldiers, ensure the number of soldiers is clear to provide context. Use "multiple soldiers were" when the exact number isn't known or relevant, but it's important to emphasize there was more than one.

Common error

Avoid using "a soldier were" as it's grammatically incorrect. The phrase "multiple soldiers were" requires a plural subject and verb.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "multiple soldiers were" functions as part of a clause, typically within a sentence, to indicate that a group of soldiers, rather than just one, experienced a particular state, action, or condition. Ludwig AI validates this usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

12.5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

12.5%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "multiple soldiers were" is grammatically sound and used to denote that more than one soldier was involved in a situation. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness of the phrase. While its occurrence is currently rare, it appears most frequently in news and media contexts. When using this phrase, ensure clarity about the context and number of soldiers involved, and avoid common errors like incorrect singularization. Alternatives like "several soldiers were" or "numerous soldiers were" can also be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

several soldiers were

Replaces "multiple" with "several", indicating more than two but not necessarily a large number.

numerous soldiers were

Substitutes "multiple" with "numerous", suggesting a large quantity of soldiers.

many soldiers were

Uses "many" instead of "multiple", indicating a considerable number of soldiers.

a number of soldiers were

Employs "a number of" to convey that there were more than just a few soldiers.

various soldiers were

Replaces "multiple" with "various", indicating different soldiers were involved.

a few soldiers were

Indicates that some soldiers were present or involved, but not many.

some soldiers were

A more general way to say soldiers were involved.

a group of soldiers were

Highlights that the soldiers acted as a unit.

several military personnel were

Uses a more formal term for soldiers.

more than one soldier was

Explicitly states that the number of soldiers involved exceeded one.

FAQs

How do I use "multiple soldiers were" in a sentence?

Use "multiple soldiers were" to indicate that several soldiers were involved in a situation or action. For example, "Multiple soldiers were deployed to the area to maintain peace".

What's the difference between "multiple soldiers were" and "several soldiers were"?

Both phrases indicate more than one soldier, but "several soldiers were" often suggests a smaller, less defined number compared to "multiple soldiers were". The choice depends on the desired emphasis on the quantity.

Can I use "many soldiers were" instead of "multiple soldiers were"?

Yes, "many soldiers were" is a suitable alternative, especially if you want to emphasize a large number of soldiers. However, "multiple soldiers were" is slightly more formal.

Is "multiple soldiers was" grammatically correct?

No, "multiple soldiers was" is incorrect. The correct form is "multiple soldiers were" because "soldiers" is a plural subject, requiring the plural verb "were".