struggling were

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "struggling were" is not correct and does not make sense in written English.
It seems to be a fragment that lacks context or a subject, making it unusable as it stands. Example: "The students struggling were unable to complete the exam on time."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

She says she is "stony-broke" and would be struggling, were her husband not a doctor.

The Guardian

Nearly without exception, the students in the study who were struggling were taking nothing but large introductory courses that were needed to complete their degree.

The New York Times

"At no point in time when we were struggling were we stressing, worrying or saying anything crazy," said Richard Jefferson, who finished with 24 points.

The New York Times

His own Corinthians, once struggling, were rolling in money, but he preferred his political slogans to the dozens of sponsors now blazoned on their shirts.

The Economist

First, the government barred Telus from closing a deal for Mobilicity, which is nearly insolvent, while making it clear that Telus and Mobilicity, which is Russian owned and struggling, were off limits to the big three.

The New York Times

Especially the 18 holes at Royal Troon where Hamilton had his name engraved on the claret jug and where all those golf balls he hit in all those years of struggling were suddenly worth it.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

"To see people still struggling is tough.

The New York Times

One island that is struggling is St Helena.

BBC

One company that has struggled is Discover Financial Services.

Forbes

Where he struggles is with consistency.

BBC

Struggling, are you?

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a group or entity facing problems, ensure the verb tense and subject-verb agreement are correct. Use complete sentences and avoid fragments like "struggling were".

Common error

Avoid using "struggling were" as a standalone phrase. Always provide a subject (e.g., "The students struggling were...") to form a grammatically correct sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "struggling were" functions as an incomplete predicate because it lacks a subject, rendering it grammatically incorrect. Ludwig's AI confirms this, highlighting the need for a subject to create a complete and meaningful sentence.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Science

23%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "struggling were" is typically used to describe a state of difficulty, but is grammatically incorrect due to the absence of a subject. As Ludwig AI pointed out, the phrase needs a subject to form a complete sentence. Although examples can be found in news and scientific contexts, it's advisable to use grammatically correct alternatives such as "were having difficulty" or "were facing challenges" to ensure clarity and correctness in writing. It has been found in approximately 7 examples, which qualifies the use of this term as uncommon.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were facing difficulties

Replaces "struggling" with a more general term indicating challenges.

were encountering problems

Uses "encountering problems" to highlight the presence of obstacles.

were having a hard time

Employs a more colloquial expression for experiencing difficulties.

were in distress

Focuses on the state of being troubled or under pressure.

were undergoing hardship

Highlights the experience of suffering or deprivation.

were battling adversity

Emphasizes the act of fighting against unfavorable conditions.

were grappling with challenges

Uses "grappling" to convey a sense of actively dealing with difficulties.

were contending with issues

Indicates dealing with specific problems or matters of concern.

were living through a crisis

Suggests a period of intense difficulty or danger.

were enduring trials

Highlights the act of bearing difficult or painful experiences.

FAQs

How to correct "struggling were" in a sentence?

Ensure a subject precedes "struggling" to form a complete clause, like "Those struggling were seeking help" or replace it with grammatically correct alternatives.

What are some alternative ways to express that someone was struggling?

You can use alternatives like "were having difficulty", "were facing challenges", or "were encountering problems".

Is "struggling were" grammatically correct?

No, "struggling were" is not grammatically correct as it lacks a subject. A subject is needed to complete the sentence, such as "The students struggling were...".

What is the difference between "struggling were" and "who were struggling"?

"Struggling were" is an incomplete phrase. "Who were struggling" includes a relative pronoun ("who") creating a relative clause, providing context and making the sentence grammatically correct. For example, "The students who were struggling needed extra help".