there were not any

USAGE SUMMARY

"there were not any" is correct and usable in written English.
You would typically use it when you want to express that there was nothing of something. For example, "We looked to see if there were any chocolate chips left in the pantry, but there were not any."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Mr. Oettinger said there were not "any immediate concerns" about cutoffs this coming winter as a result of continuing tension between Russia and Ukraine.

The New York Times

There were not any.

The New York Times

There were not any ducks in view.

The New Yorker

There were not any conflicts of interest in this project.

Cornell University

"There were not any pros," said an EU source.

The Guardian

"There were not any sandbags outside the White House".

The New York Times

But at least there were not any fights.

The New York Times - Sports

There were not any cracks and delamination on stent surface after dilation by angioplasty.

Surface and Coatings Technology

Meanwhile, there were not any fusiform fibroblasts growing on this scaffold.

Materials Science and Engineering: C

There were not any changes in milk composition in 2P ewes between SA and OT treatment.

Small Ruminant Research

Asked about conflicting loyalties, he told an anecdote that confirmed there were not any.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "there were not any" to clearly emphasize the absence of something, especially when you want to counter an expectation or assumption. For instance, "I checked for messages, but there were not any."

Common error

Be mindful of creating double negatives. "There weren't no problems" is incorrect and should be replaced with "there were no problems" or "there weren't any problems."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there were not any" functions as an existential negative statement. It asserts the absence or non-existence of something. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its usage in various contexts to deny the presence of specific items or conditions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

32%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "there were not any" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to indicate the absence of something. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It is commonly found in news, scientific, and academic contexts, demonstrating its versatility. While alternatives like "there were no" exist, "there were not any" emphasizes the negation. Pay attention to potential double negatives, as highlighted in the writing guidance. Ludwig's examples showcase its wide applicability across different domains and registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there weren't any

Contraction of "there were not", making it slightly more informal.

there were no

A more concise and common way to express the same meaning.

there weren't any at all

Adds emphasis to the complete absence of something.

there were absolutely no

Stronger emphasis on the lack of something.

there weren't absolutely any

Combines contraction and emphatic wording.

not a single one existed

Emphasizes the complete absence, using a different structure.

none existed

A very concise way to state absence.

there did not exist any

More formal and less common phrasing.

not one was present

Highlights the absence of even a single item.

there failed to be any

A more elaborate and less direct way of indicating absence.

FAQs

What's the difference between "there were not any" and "there were no"?

While both phrases express the absence of something, "there were no" is generally more concise and common. "There were not any" can add slightly more emphasis. Both are grammatically correct and often interchangeable.

Is it correct to say "there weren't no"?

No, "there weren't no" is a double negative and grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing would be "there were no" or "there weren't any".

When should I use "there were not any" over other alternatives?

Use "there were not any" when you want to particularly emphasize the absence of something or when you are specifically negating a previous assumption or expectation. In simpler contexts, "there were no" might be more appropriate.

What are some alternative phrases to "there were not any"?

You can use alternatives like "there were no", "there weren't any", or "none existed" depending on the context and desired level of formality.