there was available

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "there was available" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly; the correct form would be "there was" followed by a noun or "there were available" if referring to multiple items. Example: "There were available options for the project, but we chose the best one."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

A company called Atlantic Salmon Reserve runs a fishing camp called Rynda Lodge, but nobody there was available for comment.

Independent

But that form of mass public housing, known as Singapores, because the inspiration came from a mayor's visit there, was available to just a few families and quickly became unpopular because crime groups came to dominate the buildings.

The New York Times

In addition there was available adjacent cancer free tissue for 23 of the malignant tumors.

BMC Cancer

"There was available space," Mrs. Williams said last week as she surveyed empty classrooms in a portable building at P.S. 34.

The New York Times

For about a month, Bush was reined in by defenses that focused on him and was frustrated by U.S.C.'s inability to give him the ball when there was available running room.

The New York Times

There was available, to begin with, S. J. Perelman's sublime Raymond Chandler spoof, "Farewell, My Lovely Appetizer": I stared at her ears, liking the way they were joined to her head.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

Information about staying there is available at www.reserveusa.com or [phone].

The New York Times

In many cases, there is available learning from other industries.

Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

There are available three stability tests.

Journal of Economic Structures

'Someone Out There' is available now on Atlantic Records.

BBC

"Especially because there were available people on the [Senate] floor".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When indicating availability, specify the noun first (e.g., "Help was available") for clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using "there was available" without a specified noun. Instead, restructure the sentence to clearly state what was available (e.g., "There were options available").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there was available" functions as an expletive construction followed by an adjective. According to Ludwig AI, this structure is often incorrect and requires specifying a noun after "was".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "there was available" is commonly used but often grammatically incorrect. As noted by Ludwig AI, this construction usually needs a specific noun to follow "was" for clarity and correctness (e.g., "There were options available"). While frequently found in diverse contexts such as Science and News & Media, it's advisable to use more precise alternatives like "something was available" or restructure the sentence to avoid ambiguity. Be mindful of specifying what exactly is available for improved clarity and grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

something was available

Rephrases to focus on the 'something' to be available.

resources were available

Specifies 'resources' as the available items, useful in project contexts.

something was accessible

Uses a synonym that emphasizes ease of access.

support was provided

Highlights the act of providing support.

services were provided

Focuses on provision of services.

something was on offer

Implies availability as part of a promotion or special deal.

options existed

Focuses on the existence of options, suitable for decision-making scenarios.

assistance was provided

Focuses on the provision of assistance.

something existed

Focuses solely on the existence rather than the availability.

help could be found

Emphasizes the potential for finding assistance.

FAQs

How to correctly use "available" in a sentence?

Ensure you specify what is available. Instead of saying "there was available", specify the subject first, such as "help was available" or "options were available".

What's a more grammatically correct way to say "there was available"?

A better formulation is to specify what was available, like saying "assistance was provided" or "support could be found".

Is it ever correct to say "there was available"?

While you might encounter "there was available" in some contexts, it's generally better to restructure your sentence for clarity. For instance, say "something was accessible" or "something was on offer" instead.

How does the meaning change if I use "something was available" instead of "there was available"?

Using "something was available" directly specifies the subject, making the sentence more direct and grammatically sound. This avoids the ambiguity of "there was available".