still were

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "still were" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something continued to be true or in a certain state in the past, despite other circumstances. Example: "Despite the challenges they faced, they still were committed to their goals."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Maybe we still were.

The New Yorker

And they still were.

The New Yorker

They still were.

The New Yorker

Sporadic downpours still were possible.

The Guardian

There still were some flourishes.

The Guardian

(Brighter still were his white shoes).

The New York Times

But they still were that close, right?

The Guardian - Sport

At 7 35 you still were not there.

The New Yorker

The other blend compositions still were optically transparent.

Polymer

They did so, but still were not paid.

The New York Times

Perhaps more egregious still were a number of exclusions.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "still were" to clearly indicate that a condition or state continued from a previous time, emphasizing its persistence despite other events or changes. For example, "Despite the criticism, they "still were" determined to succeed".

Common error

Avoid using "still were" when the context requires a different tense. For instance, don't use it to describe a current state if "are still" or "is still" is more appropriate. For example, instead of saying "They "still were" working on it now", say "They are still working on it now".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "still were" functions as a verbal phrase indicating a state or condition that persisted at a specific time in the past. It often highlights the continuation of something despite intervening circumstances, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "still were" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression, as validated by Ludwig. It serves to emphasize the continuity of a state or condition in the past, often despite other circumstances. Common in News & Media, Academia, and Science, its neutral register allows for flexible application. When writing, ensure the tense is appropriate and consider alternative phrasing like "remained" or "continued to be" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were still

Inverts the word order, maintaining the meaning but with a different emphasis.

continued to be

Expresses the ongoing nature of a state or condition, similar to "still were".

remained

Replaces "still were" with a single word indicating a continuing state.

persisted in being

Emphasizes the enduring quality of a state or condition.

carried on being

Suggests an active continuation of a state or condition.

were yet

Indicates something continued to be true up to a certain point.

had not ceased to be

Formally expresses the continuation of a state, often in a more emphatic way.

were as yet

Implies that something was still in a particular state at a specific time.

were consistently

Focuses on the unchanging nature of something over time.

were even then

Highlights that something was true even at a particular point in time.

FAQs

How do I use "still were" in a sentence?

Use "still were" to indicate that something continued to be true or in a certain state in the past. For example, "Even after the storm, the roads "still were" impassable".

What's a good alternative to "still were"?

Alternatives include "remained", "continued to be", or "were still", depending on the specific context.

Is it ever incorrect to use "still were"?

Yes, avoid using "still were" when the context requires a present tense form such as "are still" or "is still". Make sure the past tense is appropriate for the situation you're describing.

What's the difference between "still were" and "were still"?

The phrases are very similar, but "were still" often emphasizes the ongoing nature of the state, while "still were" can sometimes emphasize the unexpectedness or persistence of the state.