there were others

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'there were others' is grammatically correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to refer to a group or set of additional people or things beyond those already mentioned. For example: "These four people were assigned to the task, but there were others that could assist as well."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

The military said it was possible there were others victims.

Huffington Post

There were others.

The New York Times

And there were others.

University of California, Berkeley

Well, there were others.

Yale University

But there were others.

Harvard Business Review

There were others, elsewhere.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

There were other excursions.

The New York Times

There were other trials.

Independent

There were other moments.

The New York Times - Sports

There were other incidents.

The New Yorker

There were other paradoxes.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "there were others", ensure the context clearly establishes what the 'others' are being compared to. Clarity is key for effective communication.

Common error

Avoid using "there were others" without a clear antecedent. Vague references can confuse readers. For example, instead of saying "Some liked the plan, but there were others", specify who the 'others' are (e.g. "Some liked the plan, but other team members disagreed").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there were others" functions as an existential clause, asserting the existence of additional entities (people or things) beyond those already mentioned. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "there were others" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate the existence of additional entities beyond those already mentioned. As Ludwig AI points out, this phrase is versatile and finds application across diverse contexts, including news, academic writing, and general conversation. Its primary function is to expand on a previous statement, providing additional information by asserting the presence or existence of more individuals or items. While the phrase maintains a neutral register, it's important to ensure clarity by establishing a clear reference point for whom or what the 'others' pertain to, preventing ambiguity in communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

others existed

Emphasizes the existence of additional entities without necessarily implying a comparison.

more existed

A more concise version indicating the existence of additional items or entities.

additional individuals were present

Focuses specifically on people being present in addition to those already mentioned.

more people existed

Highlights the existence of a larger quantity of people.

further individuals were there

Emphasizes the presence of more people at a specific location.

still more were around

Suggests the availability or presence of even more individuals or items.

some others were around

Indicates the presence of a few additional individuals.

various others were present

Highlights the diversity or variety of additional individuals.

a few others existed

Suggests a small number of additional entities.

more were available

Focuses on the availability of additional items or resources.

FAQs

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

You can use "there were others" to indicate that in addition to some individuals or items already mentioned, others also existed or were present. For example, "Only a few students passed the test; "there were others" who failed".

What's a more formal alternative to "there were others"?

In formal contexts, you might use "additional individuals were present" or "furthermore, others existed" as a more sophisticated alternative to "there were others".

Is it grammatically correct to say "there was others"?

No, "there was others" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "there were others", as "were" is the plural form of the verb "to be" and agrees with the plural noun "others".

How does "there were others" differ from "there are others"?

"There were others" refers to a past situation, indicating that others existed or were present at some point in the past. "There are others" indicates that others exist or are present in the current time.