there were instances where

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "there were instances where" is a correct and usable expression in written English.
It can be used to mean that something happened on some occasions in the past. For example: "There were instances where people celebrated victory in unconventional ways."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

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

The Guardian

"There were instances where we would take some time to talk football or talk just life in general," Cruz said.

The New York Times - Sports

You have to serve the song, and there were instances where it just felt like, harmonically, it needed that.

The New York Times - Arts

There were instances where he got frenetic in the pocket and didn't allow the play designs to develop.

The New York Times

The senior Conservative said the default in the court system should be transparency but there were instances where it was right to hold hearings in secret.

The Guardian

Although concentrations of aldehydes measured indoors at the participants' homes tracked well with personal exposure, there were instances where personal exposures and indoor concentrations differed significantly.

Atmospheric Environment

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

"We're saying there are instances where the system fails.

The Guardian

Undoubtedly there are instances where caesareans save lives.

The Guardian - Opinion

But with that said, there are instances where there are problems.

The New York Times

There's instances where they don't even know where their homes are".

The New York Times

"There are instances where you're starting to see some of the devices connected.

MIT Technology Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "there were instances where" to introduce specific examples or situations, adding detail to general statements. For example, instead of saying "Mistakes were made", specify "There were instances where errors in data entry led to incorrect calculations."

Common error

Avoid using "there were instances where" repeatedly in close proximity, as it can make your writing sound monotonous. Vary your sentence structure and use synonyms like "in some cases" or "on occasion" to improve readability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there were instances where" functions as an introductory phrase used to signal that specific examples or situations will follow. As Ludwig AI confirms, it introduces scenarios that illustrate a broader point or observation. Examples include "There were instances where artists felt the team was resorting to the very stereotypes they were trying to avoid."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "there were instances where" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to introduce specific examples or situations. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and widespread applicability. As shown by the many examples, it's frequently found in News & Media and Science, and to a lesser extent in Formal & Business contexts. To enhance your writing, remember to use it to support your claims with concrete evidence, but avoid overuse to maintain clarity and variety. Consider synonyms like "in some cases" or "on occasion" for similar meanings, and make sure your sentence sounds neither monotonous nor repetitive.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there were occasions when

Replaces "instances" with "occasions", emphasizing specific times when something happened.

there were situations when

Uses "situations" instead of "instances", focusing on circumstances.

there were times that

Uses "times" instead of "instances", highlighting specific moments.

on some occasions

Shortens the phrase, focusing on the occurrence of events.

there have been situations in which

More formal and elaborate, focusing on the circumstances.

in certain situations

Emphasizes specific situations or scenarios, similar to "in some cases".

in some cases

Highlights specific situations or scenarios.

certain scenarios involved

Highlights specific situations and their elements.

sometimes

Simplifies the phrase to a single adverb indicating frequency.

it happened that

Emphasizes the occurrence of an event or situation.

FAQs

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

Use "there were instances where" to introduce specific examples or situations that illustrate a broader point. For example: "The project faced several challenges; "there were instances where" deadlines were missed due to unforeseen technical difficulties".

What are some alternatives to "there were instances where"?

Alternatives include phrases like "in some cases", "on occasion", or "sometimes", which can provide variety and brevity. For example, instead of ""there were instances where" the system crashed", you could say "sometimes the system crashed".

Is "there were instances when" grammatically equivalent to "there were instances where"?

Yes, "there were instances when" is grammatically equivalent and often interchangeable. "Where" refers to a situation or condition, while "when" refers to a time or occasion, but in many contexts, they convey the same meaning. For example, "There were instances where errors occurred" is similar to "There were instances when errors occurred".

When is it best to use "there were instances where" instead of simpler alternatives?

Use ""there were instances where"" when you want to emphasize the existence of specific occurrences within a broader context. Simpler alternatives like "sometimes" or "occasionally" may lack the same level of detail and specificity.