once they are

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "once they are" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a condition or situation that occurs after a certain point in time or after a specific action has been completed. Example: "Once they are finished with their tasks, they can take a break."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And another 10 once they are served.

The New York Times

Once they are translucent, add the stock.

The Guardian - Books

Once they are well established, that's it.

The New York Times

For once, they are entirely justified.

The Guardian

Once they are accepted, most revert to their actual names.

The New York Times

Once they are in power, they forget the people".

The New York Times

Once they are gone, Tracy starts cleaning up.

The New Yorker

Once they are over I forget about them.

The Guardian - Sport

Once they are in place, prices can no longer rise.

The New York Times

Once they are in a different brand, they're gone.

The New York Times

And all at once, they are at six points apiece.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "once they are" to clearly establish a sequence of events, making sure the timing of actions is unambiguous. For instance, "Once they are approved, the funds will be released."

Common error

Avoid using "once they is" when referring to a plural subject. Remember that "they" is plural, so the correct form is always "once they are".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "once they are" functions as an adverbial clause of time, introducing a condition that must be met before the main clause can occur. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a common and acceptable way to structure sentences indicating sequential events.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Wiki

39%

News & Media

37%

Science

24%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "once they are" functions as an adverbial clause of time, clearly indicating that an action will occur after a specific condition is met. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically sound and prevalent in various contexts, particularly in News & Media, Science and Wiki. While generally neutral in tone, consider more formal alternatives like "after they have been" in scientific or academic writing. Ludwig’s analysis underscores the importance of correct subject-verb agreement, reminding writers to avoid errors like "once they is". By adhering to best practices and understanding the nuances of its usage, you can confidently incorporate "once they are" into your writing to establish clear temporal relationships.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as soon as they are

Emphasizes the immediacy of the subsequent action.

after they have been

Focuses on the completion of an action prior to the subsequent state.

when they become

Highlights the transition into a new state or condition.

after they get

A more informal alternative.

subsequent to them being

A more formal phrasing emphasizing the sequence of events.

following their

More concise, often used when referring to a specific event or action.

upon their

A more formal and immediate sequence.

post their

A shortened, somewhat informal way to indicate 'after'.

on the condition that they are

Adds a conditional element to the sequence.

provided that they are

Similar to 'on the condition that', but slightly less formal.

FAQs

How can I use "once they are" in a sentence?

The phrase "once they are" introduces a dependent clause indicating when something will happen. For example: "Once they are finished, we can leave."

What can I say instead of "once they are"?

Alternatives include "after they are", "when they are", or "as soon as they are" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "once they is" instead of "once they are"?

No, "once they is" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "once they are" because "they" is a plural pronoun and requires the plural form of the verb "to be".

What's the difference between "once they are" and "if they are"?

"Once they are" implies a sequence where something happens after a condition is met. "If they are" sets a condition without necessarily implying a sequence. For example, "Once they are ready, we'll begin" suggests a start time. "If they are ready, we might begin" expresses uncertainty.