there were ones

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "there were ones" is not standard and may be confusing in written English.
It could be used in a context where you are referring to specific items or instances that were present in the past, but it lacks clarity. Example: "In the old storage room, there were ones that I had forgotten about."

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

There were ones that were on the edge that stayed and ones that aren't on the album but seemed for a while like they were ahead of the pack.

Huffington Post

"There were ones as big as your hand, about 20 of them," Carr said.

The Guardian

There were ones for humanitarians (Franca Sozzani, the editor of Italian Vogue, and Evie Evangelou, president of Fashion 4 Development).

The New York Times

"There were ones as big as your hand, about 20 of them," Ms Carr said, when asked about the tarantulas.

Independent

And then there were ones that were wholly unknown to me—I couldn't even figure out what part of town they might have been in.

The New Yorker

There were ones for the media (given to Carine Roitfeld and Deborah Needleman of T: The New York Times Style Magazine).

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

(There were one thousand five hundred and eleven).

The New Yorker

There are ones with free trials.

WikiHow

There is one project.

Princeton University

There's one.

Cornell University

There is one question.

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clarity, replace "there were ones" with more specific language that identifies what 'ones' refers to. For example, instead of "There were ones as big as your hand," specify "There were spiders as big as your hand."

Common error

Avoid using "there were ones" without a clear antecedent. Ensure the reader knows what "ones" is referring to, or rephrase to be more explicit. Don't leave your reader guessing!

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "there were ones" is to indicate the existence of multiple items or entities in the past. The phrase acts as an existential clause, asserting that certain "ones" were present. As Ludwig AI suggests, the phrase could be confusing.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "there were ones" is a grammatically acceptable but potentially ambiguous way to express the existence of multiple items in the past. While common, clarity can often be improved by specifying what "ones" refers to. As noted by Ludwig AI, this ambiguity can cause confusion. The phrase appears frequently in News & Media and Academic contexts, though its usage spans various levels of formality. Consider using more specific alternatives to enhance clarity and precision in writing. Always be mindful of the reader's understanding when choosing this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

certain ones existed

Adds emphasis on specific items within a group.

some existed

Uses a more direct verb and is less conversational.

a number existed

Implies a larger quantity than "a few".

a few were present

More formal and emphasizes presence.

several were around

More informal and suggests proximity.

some were available

Focuses on availability rather than just existence.

various types were there

Emphasizes the diversity of items.

certain instances occurred

More formal and focuses on events or cases.

a selection was available

Focuses on choice and availability.

some examples could be found

Highlights the possibility of finding instances.

FAQs

How can I make the phrase "there were ones" more specific?

Replace "ones" with a noun that clarifies what you are referring to. For example, instead of "There were ones that were broken", say "There were plates that were broken".

What are some alternatives to using "there were ones"?

Consider using phrases like "some existed", "certain ones existed", or "a few were present" depending on the context.

Is "there were ones" grammatically correct?

While not strictly incorrect, "there were ones" can sound awkward and is often less clear than alternative phrasings. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase can be confusing in written English.

What is the difference between "there were ones" and "there were some"?

"There were some" is generally clearer and more widely accepted. "There were ones" implies a selection from a specific set, but this isn't always obvious to the reader; it's better to clarify the noun.