there were times when

USAGE SUMMARY

"there were times when" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to introduce a situation in which something happened or was true. For example: "There were times when I was convinced that I would never find a job."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There were times when survival seemed impossible.

Independent

There were times when Clemens overthrew receivers.

The New York Times

"There were times when I threw microphones.

The New York Times - Magazine

There were times when I didn't want to be alive.

Yale University

There were times when I felt trapped and uneasy.

The Guardian - Books

"There were times when I didn't have enough to eat".

The New York Times

"Yeah," she says, "there were times when he was".

The Guardian - Film

There were times when the call was disconnected mid-song.

The New Yorker

There were times when I considered dropping out altogether.

The Guardian

There were times when I was at my wits' end.

The Guardian

'Well, I suppose there were times when you wondered why.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "there were times when" with vivid imagery or sensory details to create a more engaging and memorable reading experience.

Common error

Avoid starting multiple consecutive sentences with "there were times when". Vary your sentence structure to maintain reader interest and prevent monotony.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there were times when" functions as an adverbial clause introducer, setting the stage for describing past experiences or situations. It indicates that something happened occasionally or repeatedly within a certain timeframe. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

12%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "there were times when" is a grammatically sound and versatile phrase used to introduce past experiences or situations, with a communicative purpose of providing context and background information. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While primarily found in news and media, this phrase is suitable for various contexts and offers several alternatives for nuanced expression. It's a common phrase, so ensure you're diversifying your writing and not overusing this particular expression. Remember to set the stage for past experiences or situations to maximize the effectiveness of the phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there were occasions when

Replaces "times" with "occasions", suggesting specific instances rather than a general period.

there were instances where

Substitutes "times" with "instances" and "when" with "where", focusing on particular occurrences.

there were moments when

Uses "moments" instead of "times", implying brief or specific points in time.

there were periods when

Replaces "times" with "periods", indicating longer durations or phases.

there were situations where

Substitutes "times" with "situations" and "when" with "where", highlighting specific circumstances.

on some occasions

A more concise alternative, emphasizing specific instances.

at certain points

Highlights particular moments or stages when something happened.

in some instances

Emphasizes that something happened in specific cases.

during certain phases

Focuses on particular stages or periods when something was true.

it happened sometimes that

An alternative that changes the sentence structure, emphasizing the occurrence of an event.

FAQs

How can I use "there were times when" in a sentence?

Use "there were times when" to introduce a situation that occurred in the past. For example, "There were times when I doubted my abilities."

What phrases are similar to "there were times when"?

Similar phrases include "there were occasions when", "there were moments when", and "at times".

Is "there were times when" formal or informal?

"There were times when" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives may exist for specific situations.

What's the difference between "there were times when" and "sometimes"?

"There were times when" implies specific instances or periods in the past, while "sometimes" suggests a more general and less defined frequency. Consider, for example, "There were times when I felt lost", versus, "Sometimes I feel lost".