some were

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "some were" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a subset of a group in various contexts, often when discussing past events or situations. Example: "Some were surprised by the outcome of the election, while others had expected it all along."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Some were scary, some were happy.

The New York Times

Some were square and some were starry.

The New York Times - Food

Some were caught; some were killed.

The New Yorker

Some were burned alive.

The New York Times - Magazine

Some were great.

The New York Times - Arts

Some were not placated.

The New York Times

Some were grad students!

The New York Times

Some were solid.

The Economist

Perhaps some were crypts.

The New York Times

Some were arrested.

The New York Times

Some were teary-eyed.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "some were" when you want to indicate that a portion, but not all, of a group or set shared a particular characteristic or experience. It is often followed by details about those individuals.

Common error

Avoid using "some were" when referring to a very small or insignificant number, as it can mislead readers into thinking the group is larger than it is. In such cases, consider using "a few were" or "only a couple were" to provide a more accurate representation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "some were" functions as a quantifier followed by a verb, indicating that a subset of a group possessed a particular characteristic or experienced a specific action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and readily used.

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, "some were" is a versatile phrase used to denote that a portion of a group shares a characteristic or experience. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent use across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While alternatives like "a few were" or "several were" may offer nuanced meanings, understanding the context is crucial for accurate usage. Remember to avoid overgeneralization and consider precision when specifying quantities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a few were

Replaces "some" with "a few", indicating a smaller quantity.

several were

Substitutes "some" with "several", suggesting a moderate quantity.

many were

Emphasizes a larger quantity than "some" by using "many".

certain ones were

Adds specificity by using "certain ones", implying a selection based on particular criteria.

not all were

Indicates that not every member of the group shared a particular characteristic.

a number of them were

Expands the phrase to "a number of them", offering a more descriptive alternative.

a section of them were

Replaces "some" with "a section", indicating a specific group within a larger whole.

a proportion were

Uses "a proportion" to indicate a part of a whole, providing a statistical nuance.

various ones were

Highlights diversity within the group using "various ones".

a percentage was

Specifies the quantity with "a percentage", providing a statistical precision.

FAQs

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

Use "some were" to indicate that a portion of a group experienced a certain condition or action, while implying that others did not. For instance, "Some were happy, others were sad" shows contrasting emotions within a group.

What are some alternatives to "some were"?

You can use alternatives like "a few were", "several were", or "many were" depending on the quantity you want to emphasize.

Is it ever incorrect to use "some were"?

While grammatically correct, using "some were" might be misleading if the actual number is very small. In such cases, more precise terms like "a couple were" or "only a few were" would be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "some were" and "all were"?

"Some were" implies that only a portion of a group experienced something, whereas "all were" indicates that every member of the group did. The distinction is about inclusivity.