there were frequent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "there were frequent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe occurrences or events that happened often in a particular context or timeframe. Example: "There were frequent delays in the train schedule due to the heavy snowfall."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

However, during the Troubles there were frequent road closures and check points at the border.

BBC

Throughout the interviews there were frequent references to alcohol making as representing an important tradition.

BMC Public Health

There were frequent blackouts.

The New York Times

There were frequent fights.

The Guardian - Sport

There were frequent arguments.

The New York Times

There were frequent angry confrontations.

The Guardian

Recently, there were frequent anonymous user registrations.

Harvard University

There were frequent rapes of female migrants.

The New York Times

There were frequent stand-up rows with petty supervisors.

The Guardian - Opinion

There were frequent references to "the back of the classroom".

The New York Times

In the 1990s, there were frequent revivals of his work.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "there were frequent" when you want to emphasize the regularity or commonality of an event or situation. This framing highlights that the occurrence wasn't isolated but happened often.

Common error

Avoid using "there were frequent" without specifying the subject or nature of the frequent occurrences. Lack of specificity can weaken the sentence and leave the reader unsure of what exactly was happening often. For example, instead of saying "There were frequent issues", be specific: "There were frequent network outages".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there were frequent" functions as an existential clause introducing the existence of multiple instances of something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "there were frequent" is a versatile and grammatically sound way to indicate that something occurred often. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use across various contexts, including news, science, and academia. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying what was happening frequently and avoiding vague language. Alternatives like "there were many" or "there were regular" can be used depending on the desired nuance. Overall, "there were frequent" is a reliable choice for conveying the common occurrence of an event or situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there were many

Replaces "frequent" with a simpler term for numerous occurrences.

there were regular

Substitutes "frequent" with "regular", implying occurrences at consistent intervals.

there were common

Replaces "frequent" with "common", indicating widespread or typical occurrences.

there were numerous

Replaces "frequent" with "numerous", emphasizing a large quantity of occurrences.

there were constant

Substitutes "frequent" with "constant", suggesting uninterrupted or continuous occurrences.

there were persistent

Replaces "frequent" with "persistent", indicating repeated occurrences over a period of time.

there were routine

Substituting "frequent" with "routine" highlights that the occurrences are standard or expected.

there were repeated

Replaces "frequent" with "repeated", emphasizing that the occurrences happened more than once.

there were recurrent

Substitute with recurrent to indicate the events occurred repeatedly or periodically.

there were habitual

Replaces "frequent" with "habitual" suggesting the occurrences were based on habit or regular tendency.

FAQs

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

Use "there were frequent" to describe occurrences or events that happened often. For example, "There were frequent delays in the train schedule due to the heavy snowfall."

What can I say instead of "there were frequent"?

You can use alternatives like "there were many", "there were regular", or "there were common" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "there were frequent delays" or "there was frequent delay"?

"There were frequent delays" is correct because "delays" is plural, requiring the plural verb "were". "There was frequent delay" would only be correct if referring to a single, continuous delay.

What's the difference between "there were frequent" and "there were occasional"?

"There were frequent" indicates that something happened often, while "there were occasional" suggests that something happened sometimes but not regularly. Frequency is higher with "frequent".