something still existed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "something still existed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that a particular thing or concept remains present or has not been eliminated, despite other changes or circumstances. Example: "Even after the renovations, something still existed from the original structure that gave the building its unique character."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

They get a tie, framed certificate and something that I didn't know still existed, a commemorative tie pin.

The Guardian - Sport

Instead, we watched something streamed over the Internet, while it still existed.

The New York Times

"They can't believe something like that still exists".

The New York Times

I just couldn't believe something like this still exists".

The New York Times

Discrimination still existed.

The New Yorker

And yet, in her photographs from Big Mountain, Camille Summers-Valli captures something affirming, something enduring and vital, that still exists in this community.

Vice

TONY BRANCATELLI, A CLEVELAND CITY COUNCILMAN, yearns for signs that something like normal life still exists in his ward.

The New York Times - Magazine

The one photographer at the Whitney who has the somewhat old-fashioned view that something like pure nature still exists is Sally Gall.

The New York Times - Arts

You reach the great national parks of the Rockies, where wolves and bears and something close to wilderness still exists, and drive on through the red rock canyonlands of Utah and Arizona.

The Guardian - Travel

Object permanence is the awareness that something that has existed, still exists, even if it's out of our line of sight.

Huffington Post

I am always hesitant about films that have zero humor in them because I've found, in the most dark places, whether it's gallows humor or something else, that humor still exists.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "something still existed" to emphasize the surprising or unexpected continuation of a thing, quality or condition despite circumstances that might suggest otherwise.

Common error

Avoid using "something still existed" in sentences where a simple statement of existence would suffice. Instead of saying "Even after the changes, something still existed", consider "Even after the changes, it remained".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "something still existed" functions as a clause element, typically found as part of a larger sentence. Based on Ludwig AI, it asserts the persistence or survival of an unspecified "something" up to a certain point in the past.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

8%

Encyclopedias

6%

Wiki

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "something still existed" is a grammatically sound expression used to indicate the continuation or survival of an unspecified element up to a specific point in the past. Although relatively rare, as indicated by Ludwig AI, it effectively conveys resilience or continuity across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While generally neutral, it is important to use this phrase deliberately, ensuring it adds meaningful emphasis rather than redundancy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

something remained

Focuses on the persistence of a part or aspect of something.

something persisted

Emphasizes the continuation of something despite challenges or changes.

something endured

Highlights the ability of something to last over a long period.

something survived

Focuses on overcoming obstacles to continue existing.

something continued to exist

Directly states the uninterrupted existence of something.

something was still present

Indicates the continued presence of something in a specific context.

traces remained

Suggests that only small signs or evidence of something were left.

vestiges remained

Implies that only remnants of something significant continued.

echoes persisted

Suggests that the effects or influence of something continued.

elements lingered

Indicates that components or aspects of something were still present.

FAQs

How can I use "something still existed" in a sentence?

Use "something still existed" to indicate that, despite changes or expectations, a particular aspect, quality or entity remained present. For example, "Even after the fire, "something still existed" of the original charm".

What phrases are similar to "something still existed"?

Alternatives include "something remained", "something persisted", or "traces remained", each conveying a nuanced sense of continuation or survival.

Is it correct to say "something still exists" instead of "something still existed"?

The choice depends on the tense required by the context. "Something still exists" is present tense, indicating current existence, while "something still existed" is past tense, indicating existence at a prior time.

What's the difference between "something still existed" and "something had existed"?

"Something still existed" implies continuation to a certain point in the past, whereas "something had existed" simply states that it existed at some point in the past, with no implication of continuation. Example: "Something still existed of the old house after the renovation", versus "Something had existed on that land before the building was constructed".