there were immediately

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "there were immediately" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something happened right away or without delay after a certain event. Example: "When the alarm went off, there were immediately people rushing to the exits."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

There are more good wishes in my Twitter feed this evening than there were immediately following yesterday's earthquake, and fewer jokes in questionable taste.

The New Yorker

There were immediately huge enormous cuts as soon as we got back into rehearsal".

The New York Times

There are more MPs now than there were immediately after the war, but in 1945 there were 640.

The Guardian - Opinion

But with one washer and dryer on the premises, there were immediately red flags.

Huffington Post

Because there was gold involved – and because gold is shiny and expensive – there were immediately conflicting reports and curious circumstances announced surrounding the disappearance of the bullion.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Listening to him, I thought sadly of the opportunity there was immediately after Oslo.

The New York Times

But if there are immediately bullish implications, they seem to be quite effectively disguised.

The Economist

There was immediately smoke everywhere and it was hot and everybody panicked.

The Guardian

"If I even think about going back, there are immediately articles.

The New York Times

"There was immediately a sense that we could wordlessly communicate with each other," Mr. Kaplan recalled.

The New York Times - Style

Mr Waschbusch said that after the landing back at Singapore there was "immediately rapture, shouting and crying".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "there were immediately" to emphasize that something happened quickly and without any delay. This can add impact to your writing and highlight the urgency or spontaneity of the situation.

Common error

While "there were immediately" is grammatically correct, avoid overusing it in highly formal or academic writing. Consider more sophisticated synonyms like "subsequently" or "there arose directly" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there were immediately" functions as an existential construction followed by an adverb of time. It introduces the existence of something that occurred without delay, emphasizing the speed and lack of hesitation in the sequence of events. As Ludwig AI suggests, it accurately describes a rapid occurrence.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "there were immediately" is a grammatically sound and useful expression for indicating that something happened quickly and without delay. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While not extremely frequent, it's commonly found in news and media contexts and can also appear in scientific writing. For more formal settings, consider alternatives like "subsequently" or "there arose directly". When using "there were immediately", ensure it aligns with the number (singular or plural) of the subject it describes. Remember that emphasizing immediacy can add impact to your writing, but overuse in formal contexts should be avoided.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there were instantly

Replaces "immediately" with "instantly", emphasizing the instantaneous nature of the events.

there were right away

Replaces "immediately" with "right away", offering a more casual alternative.

there were at once

Uses "at once" instead of "immediately", providing a slightly more formal tone.

there were straightaway

Employs "straightaway" as a synonym for "immediately", common in British English.

there were directly

Substitutes "immediately" with "directly", focusing on the lack of intermediaries or delay.

there were without delay

Expands the phrase to explicitly state the absence of delay.

there were promptly

Replaces "immediately" with "promptly", emphasizing the quick and efficient response.

there were on the spot

Indicates that actions or events occurred at the location and without any waiting period.

there were forthwith

Uses "forthwith" to convey immediacy, adding a formal and somewhat archaic flavor.

there were posthaste

Uses "posthaste" to emphasize the speed and urgency of the response.

FAQs

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

Use "there were immediately" to describe actions or reactions that happened without delay after an event. For example, "When the news broke, there were immediately protests in the streets."

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

You can use alternatives like "there were instantly", "there were at once", or "there were right away" depending on the context.

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

The correctness depends on the subject. Use "there was immediately" with singular nouns (e.g., "there was immediately a problem"), and "there were immediately" with plural nouns (e.g., "there were immediately several solutions").

What's the difference between "there were immediately" and "immediately there were"?

"There were immediately" is a more standard word order. "Immediately there were" places emphasis on the immediacy, and can be used for dramatic effect or to highlight the speed of the reaction.