there were cases

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "there were cases" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to specific instances or examples of something that occurred in the past. Example: "In the study, there were cases of participants showing significant improvement after the treatment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In Paris there were cases of prostitutes kicked to death for having accepted German soldiers as clients.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

There were cases of negative peer reviews, but not many.

The New York Times

There were cases of childhood leukemia and lymphoma.

The Washington Post

There were cases where personal ties trumped ideological divides.

The New York Times - Arts

said: "There were cases where really bad people deliberately swindled people.

The New York Times

Still, there were cases that attracted the attention of the White House.

The New York Times

There were cases when several core shifts were inferred on adjacent branches around the MRCA of a given clade.

Nature

Recently, there were cases of scombroid poisoning from escolar sold at Balthazar, said Michael LaHara, the downtown restaurant's general manager.

The New York Times - Food

There were cases where patients were just put there, and I hadn't been trained to deal with their problems.

The Guardian

There were cases when Americans killed our division officers, but they did not know who they were".

The New Yorker

More rarely, there were cases of people from the same family sneezing after meals.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "there were cases" to introduce specific examples or instances that support a broader point or argument. This helps provide concrete evidence and strengthens your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "there were cases" as a vague placeholder without providing sufficient detail or context about the cases themselves. Always strive to offer specific information to make the statement meaningful and impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there were cases" functions as an existential clause, asserting the existence of specific instances or examples. As indicated by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used. It serves to introduce concrete evidence supporting a broader statement or argument.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "there were cases" is a versatile and grammatically correct phrase used to introduce specific examples or instances. According to Ludwig, it is suitable for a wide range of contexts, from news reports to scientific papers, adding clarity and substantiation to your writing. While common, it's crucial to provide sufficient detail about the cases to avoid vagueness. Alternatives include "there were instances" and "there were examples". This phrase’s frequency and presence in reputable sources like The New York Times and BBC highlight its reliability and broad applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there were instances

Replaces "cases" with "instances", maintaining the meaning of specific occurrences.

there were examples

Substitutes "cases" with "examples", emphasizing illustrative occurrences.

instances occurred

Rephrases to highlight the occurrence of instances, changing the sentence structure.

examples surfaced

Emphasizes the emergence of examples, altering the focus slightly.

a number of cases existed

Highlights the existence of multiple cases, adding emphasis to the quantity.

reports indicated cases

Shifts focus to reports as the source of information about the cases.

incidents were recorded

Uses "incidents" instead of "cases", suggesting a focus on specific events.

certain situations arose

Employs "situations arose" to convey that particular circumstances happened.

events transpired

Replaces "cases" with "events", indicating notable happenings.

developments unfolded

Uses "developments" to suggest a progression of events, changing the context slightly.

FAQs

How can I use "there were cases" in a sentence?

Use "there were cases" to introduce specific instances or examples that support a particular point or argument. For example, "In the study, "there were cases" of patients showing significant improvement after the treatment".

What are some alternatives to "there were cases"?

You can use alternatives such as "there were instances", "there were examples", or "examples surfaced" depending on the specific context.

Is it always necessary to provide details after stating "there were cases"?

While not always mandatory, providing details after stating ""there were cases"" greatly enhances clarity and credibility. Specific examples make your writing more persuasive and informative.

What's the difference between "there were cases" and "there were incidents"?

"There were cases" generally refers to specific examples or instances, while "there were incidents" often implies specific events, especially those that are problematic or noteworthy. The choice depends on whether you're highlighting examples or specific events.