so were

USAGE SUMMARY

"so were" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used as a way to respond to an affirmative statement. Example: Person A: "We both had to work late last night." Person B: "So were we."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

So were runs.

The New York Times - Sports

So were his friends.

The New Yorker

So were working toilets.

The New York Times

So were seven civilians.

The Economist

So were the Knicks.

The New York Times - Sports

So were you mischaracterized?

The New York Times

So were the French.

The Guardian

So were the obstacles.

The New York Times - Food

So were the jurors.

The New York Times

So were her daughters.

The New Yorker

So were his mates.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure correct subject-verb agreement. "So were" is used with plural subjects; use "so was" for singular subjects.

Common error

Avoid using "so were" with a singular subject. For example, instead of "The dog was happy, so were the cat", use "The dog was happy, so was the cat".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "so were" functions as an elliptical construction used for affirmative concord. It concisely indicates that a previous statement also applies to another subject. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound and appropriate for use in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "so were" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to indicate that a preceding statement is also true for another subject. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. As evidenced by the provided examples, it is most frequently found in news and media contexts. When using "so were", ensure correct subject-verb agreement (plural subjects only) and avoid using it at the beginning of a sentence. For more formal situations, consider rephrasing the sentence to explicitly state the shared condition. Remember to prevent mistakes such as "so was" with plural nouns. Alternatives to "so were" include "likewise", "similarly", and "as well", offering flexibility in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

likewise

A single word that directly expresses similarity or agreement.

similarly

Indicates a comparable situation or state.

the same was true for

Explicitly states that the same condition applies to something else.

as well

A simple addition indicating that something else is also the case.

too

A brief and common way to show agreement or addition.

and also

More emphatic than "as well", adding additional information.

in the same vein

Implies a continuation of a similar idea or characteristic.

equally

Highlights that something else shares the same quality or condition.

correspondingly

Suggests a parallel or matching situation.

by the same token

Indicates that what follows is a logical consequence of what preceded it.

FAQs

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

Use "so were" to indicate that a statement is also true for another subject. For example: "The actors were nervous, and "so were" the stagehands".

Is it correct to say "so was" instead of "so were"?

The choice between "so was" and "so were" depends on the subject. Use "so was" with a singular subject and "so were" with a plural subject. For example: "He was late, and "so was" she". "They were late, and "so were" we".

What is a more formal alternative to "so were"?

A more formal alternative to "so were" is to rephrase the sentence to explicitly state the shared condition. For example, instead of "The students were tired, and "so were" the teachers", you could say "Both the students and the teachers were tired".

Can I use "so were" at the beginning of a sentence?

"So were" typically follows an initial statement. Starting a sentence with "so were" is grammatically incorrect and stylistically awkward.