there were instances

USAGE SUMMARY

'there were instances' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to indicate that something happened on multiple occasions. For example, "There were instances in which I was asked to work overtime."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

There were instances, when they were teenagers.

The Guardian - Books

And there were instances of outright sloppiness.

The New York Times - Food

But there were instances of unexpected kindness, too.

The New York Times

There were instances when I wondered, but I couldn't say those were signs of Alzheimer's.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Though there were instances of intimidation, police say they have recorded no official complaints.

The Guardian - Business

There were instances of protesters shouting despicable slogans, but those instances were isolated and rare.

The New Yorker

There were instances of people who were suspected of being spies.

The Guardian

There were instances of patients who could not eat or drink without help not being given help to do so.

The Guardian

There were instances where artists felt the team was resorting to the very stereotypes they were trying to avoid.

The Guardian

He added: "The review did find that there were instances of reporting errors and delays in addressing contractual compliance issues.

The Guardian

There were instances of athletes' placements being changed after judging reviews in white-water kayaking, equestrian and swimming events.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "there were instances" to introduce specific examples or situations that support a broader claim. For example, "While the project was generally successful, "there were instances" where communication broke down, leading to delays."

Common error

Avoid using "there were instances" excessively, as it can lead to passive voice and weaken your writing. Consider restructuring sentences to highlight the actors or causes directly. For example, instead of "There were instances of errors being made", try "Errors occurred due to inadequate training."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there were instances" functions as an existential construction used to introduce specific examples or occurrences within a broader context. As Ludwig AI points out, it's a correct and usable phrase, which helps highlight certain situations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

39%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "there were instances" is a versatile phrase used to introduce specific examples or occurrences, thereby adding weight and credibility to your writing. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct and widely used phrase. It's particularly common in news, scientific, and business contexts, and is characterized by a neutral register, making it adaptable to various tones and styles. Remember to avoid overuse, favoring direct and active constructions where possible. To enhance clarity and impact, use it mindfully and supplement it with related phrases like "there were occasions" or "some situations arose" as needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there were occasions

Replaces "instances" with "occasions", implying specific times or events.

there were times when

Uses "times when" instead of "instances", focusing on periods when something happened.

on some occasions

Shortens the phrase while maintaining the meaning of sporadic occurrences.

certain cases occurred

Replaces "there were" with "occurred", changing the sentence structure.

some situations arose

Uses "situations arose" instead of "instances", focusing on the emergence of specific circumstances.

examples existed where

Highlights the existence of examples rather than instances.

isolated incidents happened

Emphasizes the isolated and infrequent nature of the events.

sporadic cases emerged

Highlights that cases appeared here and there.

events transpired wherein

Uses more formal language to describe the events that happened.

various episodes unfolded

Focuses on the unfolding or development of different events.

FAQs

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

"There were instances" is used to indicate that something happened on multiple occasions. For example: "There were instances when the system crashed unexpectedly." Another example is: "There were instances of miscommunication during the project's initial phase."

What are some alternatives to "there were instances"?

You can use alternatives like "there were occasions", "there were times when", or "some situations arose" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it better to say "there were instances" or "there were cases"?

Both "there were instances" and "there were cases" are grammatically correct, but their suitability depends on the context. "Instances" implies specific occurrences, while "cases" often refers to specific examples or situations under consideration.

What's the difference between "there were instances" and "there were exceptions"?

"There were instances" indicates that something happened multiple times, whereas "there were exceptions" implies that something deviated from the norm or a general rule.