they accomplished something

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they accomplished something" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a group of people has successfully completed a task or achieved a goal. Example: "After months of hard work and dedication, they accomplished something truly remarkable by launching their new product."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

You want your employees to head back home feeling like they accomplished something significant, and re-energized regarding the direction of the company and the value of their personal contribution.

Forbes

They accomplished something.

HuffPost

But at least they accomplished something in their respective professions before they hopped on the double-standard train.

Huffington Post

And they accomplished something many independent filmmakers would envy: They managed to secure deals to distribute the movie through iTunes, Amazon.com and Redbox last month.

Los Angeles Times

By getting your child involved, they get to feel like they accomplished something.

WikiHow

They may think they accomplished something, but at the end of the day, you didn't hear a word they said.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Or did they accomplish something more?

The New Yorker

Yet they accomplish something equally good, breathing fresh life into traditional genres.

The New York Times - Arts

When they accomplish something good, the attitude is, 'We've gotta go on to the next thing.' If you do that all the time, you're gonna end up a miserable person and lead an unhappy life.

The New Yorker

In "1994," his portraits may not reveal so much about who each child is, but they accomplish something else: a metaphorical evocation of time's slow erasure of the past.

The New Yorker

Also, remember to send kudos to other deserving entrepreneurs when they accomplish something notable.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they accomplished something" to highlight a group's successful completion of a project or achievement of a specific goal. Be specific about what was accomplished to add clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "they accomplished something" without specifying what was accomplished. This can leave the reader wondering about the specific achievement, diluting the impact of your statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they accomplished something" functions as a statement indicating that a group has successfully completed a task or achieved a goal. It expresses a positive outcome resulting from effort or action, as shown by the examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Wiki

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they accomplished something" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to indicate a group's successful completion of a task or achievement of a goal. Ludwig's analysis shows that while the phrase is accurate, specifying the accomplishment adds clarity. It is most commonly found in News & Media contexts, used to inform and highlight group successes. While considered neutral in tone, for formal writing, alternatives like "they achieved their objective" may be more suitable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they achieved a goal

Focuses on the attainment of a specific objective.

they attained success

Highlights the achievement of a favorable outcome or desired result.

they reached their objective

Emphasizes the completion of a planned target.

they were successful

States a general condition of having achieved success.

they made progress

Indicates forward movement toward a goal.

they fulfilled their ambition

Highlights the satisfaction of achieving a long-term goal.

they realized their aspirations

Focuses on turning hopes or dreams into reality.

they brought it home

Informal way to indicate completion of a task.

they nailed it

Informal and emphatic way to indicate success.

they triumphed

Emphasizes overcoming obstacles to achieve success.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "they accomplished something"?

You can use alternatives such as "they achieved a goal", "they were successful", or "they attained success" to express the same idea with slightly different nuances.

Is it better to specify what was accomplished after using "they accomplished something"?

Yes, specifying what was accomplished provides clarity and adds more impact to your statement. For example, instead of just saying "they accomplished something", you could say "they accomplished something remarkable by launching their new product".

What is a formal way to say "they accomplished something"?

A more formal way to express this is "they attained success" or "they achieved their objective". These options are suitable for professional or academic contexts.

When should I use "they accomplished something" instead of "he/she accomplished something"?

Use "they accomplished something" when referring to a group or team. Use "he/she accomplished something" when referring to an individual. Ensure your pronoun usage aligns with the subject you are describing.