testimony were

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "testimony were" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be an attempt to use a subjunctive mood or a conditional statement, but it lacks proper context or structure. Example: "If the testimony were credible, we would have a stronger case."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Far more evidence and testimony were about Mr. Mays.

The New York Times

In subsequent hearings, more than five hours of testimony were presented to a committee of legislators.

The New Yorker

Among the revelations in the testimony were the disposition of the diamonds.

The New York Times

"The three basic aspects of her testimony were that she denied any deal, any vote-swapping.

The Guardian - Sport

The convictions, based on flimsy evidence and perjured testimony, were overturned by a federal court in 1980.

The New York Times

On Wednesday, portions of Mr. Ekdahl's videotaped testimony were shown to jurors in the Los Angeles case.

The New York Times

Parts of his testimony were redacted, including details of the CIA prison where it is assumed he was kept.

The Economist

Many elements of her testimony were echoed by two other former employees with the district attorney's office who were deposed.

The New York Times

As Carlin points out, the two words Pistorius repeated most often in his testimony were "my mother".

The Guardian

This time, however, the most interesting things said at the testimony were not said by Bernanke himself.

The Guardian - Opinion

Over the next decade, rules governing psychiatric testimony were reformed to prevent nonexperts from advancing novel conditions inside the courtroom.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure subject-verb agreement. "Testimony" is singular, so use "was". For plural subjects, use "testimonies were".

Common error

Avoid using "were" with singular nouns like "testimony". Always check for subject-verb agreement to ensure grammatical correctness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "testimony were" typically functions as part of a clause describing the state or nature of testimony given in a legal or formal context. However, it often indicates a grammatical error related to subject-verb agreement. As Ludwig AI indicates, the expression requires scrutiny for grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Science

12%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "testimony were" is frequently encountered, particularly in news and media, yet it often presents grammatical issues due to subject-verb disagreement. As Ludwig AI explains, the noun "testimony" is singular and should typically pair with the verb "was". Correct usage depends on context; when referring to a single instance of testimony, use "testimony was". Conversely, use "testimonies were" for multiple instances. Alternatives like "statements were" or "evidence was" can also provide grammatically sound options depending on the intended meaning. Always ensure that the verb form aligns with the number (singular or plural) of the subject.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

testimony was

Changes the plural "were" to the singular "was" to agree with singular nouns like "testimony".

statements were

Replaces "testimony" with "statements" to provide a plural noun for agreement with "were".

evidence was

Substitutes "testimony" with "evidence", requiring the singular verb form "was".

accounts were

Replaces "testimony" with "accounts" to use a plural noun form that agrees with the verb "were".

deposition was

Changes "testimony" to "deposition", using the singular verb form "was".

the evidence presented was

Adds "the evidence presented" changing the verb to "was".

the accounts given were

Adds "the accounts given", so that "accounts" acts like the subject of "were".

the witness accounts were

Adds "the witness accounts", so that "accounts" acts like the subject of "were".

the testimonies were

Changes "testimony" to the plural form "testimonies".

what was testified

Restructures the phrase to use "what was testified" focusing on the act of testifying.

FAQs

How can I correct the phrase "testimony were"?

The correct phrase depends on the intended meaning. If referring to a single instance, use "testimony was". If referring to multiple instances, use "testimonies were".

Is it ever correct to use "testimony were"?

The phrase "testimony were" is generally grammatically incorrect in standard English. Consider rephrasing to ensure proper subject-verb agreement.

What is a more grammatically sound alternative to "testimony were"?

Consider using "testimony was" if you are referring to a single piece of testimony, or "testimonies were" if referring to multiple instances.

When should I use "testimony was" instead of "testimonies were"?

Use "testimony was" when referring to a single account or statement. Use "testimonies were" when referring to multiple accounts or statements.