there were even

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "there were even" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize the existence of something surprising or unexpected in a given context. Example: "At the event, there were even celebrities in attendance, which made it even more exciting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

The Guardian - Sport

The New York Times

Cornell University

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

At one point there were even olés.

The Guardian - Sport

There were even control dials.

The New York Times

There were even some ponchos.

The New York Times

There were even some clogs.

The New York Times

There were even some surprises.

Cornell University

There were even paparazzi.

The New York Times

There were even – horror!

The Guardian - Travel

There were even whistles.

The New Yorker

There were even tropical prints thrown in.

The New York Times

There were even lobbyists in the lobbies.

The New Yorker

There were even rumours of a coup.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "there were even" to highlight unexpected or surprising elements in a narrative or description to add emphasis and interest for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "there were even" when listing expected items or elements. Reserve it for situations where the presence of something is genuinely surprising or noteworthy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there were even" functions as an existential marker, emphasizing the presence of something unexpected or surprising within a given context. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "there were even" is a grammatically sound and frequently used construction for emphasizing unexpected or surprising elements. According to Ludwig, it is appropriate for neutral registers and appears most commonly in news and media contexts. When writing, use "there were even" to add emphasis and highlight noteworthy details that might not be anticipated. It's important to avoid using it in predictable contexts where the elements being described are expected or commonplace. Ludwig's AI also provides useful alternatives such as "surprisingly, there were" or "unexpectedly, there were", offering writers flexibility in tone and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

surprisingly, there were

Explicitly highlights the element of surprise.

unexpectedly, there were

Similar to 'surprisingly', but focuses on lack of anticipation.

there were also

Focuses on simple addition without emphasizing surprise.

in addition, there were

More formal and less emphatic than "there were even".

as well, there were

A simpler way to indicate addition.

there even existed

Emphasizes the existence, perhaps against expectations.

on top of that, there were

Implies an accumulation of elements.

even more, there were

Inverts the structure for emphasis.

what's more, there were

Signals an addition that is noteworthy.

to top it off, there were

Adds an element of culmination or surprise.

FAQs

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

Use "there were even" to emphasize the unexpected presence of something. For example, "The party was a success; there were even celebrities in attendance."

What's a good substitute for "there were even"?

Alternatives include "there were also", "surprisingly, there were", or "unexpectedly, there were", depending on the desired nuance.

Is it correct to say "there was even" instead of "there were even"?

Use "there was even" with singular nouns and "there were even" with plural nouns. For example, "There was even a unicorn" vs. "There were even unicorns."

What's the difference between "there were even" and "there were only"?

"There were even" emphasizes surprise at finding something additional, while "there were only" emphasizes a limited quantity. For example, "There were even volunteers helping" vs. "There were only three volunteers."