they are extant

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they are extant" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something still exists or is currently in existence, often in reference to documents, artifacts, or species. Example: "Despite the passage of time, several original manuscripts from the 18th century are extant and available for study."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

They are extant, but, in almost every way, are already extinct.

The New York Times - Science

They are extant in Ethiopic, Syriac, Greek, and Latin translations made by Christians rather than in their original Hebrew or Aramaic forms.

Encyclopedia Britannica

They are extant in the Arabic original or Hebrew translations or both, and some of these translations serve in place of the presumably lost Arabic originals; e.g., the important commentaries on Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics and on Plato's Republic.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Birds are avian dinosaurs and they are extant.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

To understand the evolutionary history of secretin and secretin receptor, we have chosen the African lungfish Protopterus dolloi and two frog species (Xenopus laevis and Rana rugulosa) for the isolation of SCT and SCTR homologues as they are extant species in the Sarcopterygii lineage [39].

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Pterosaurs became extinct about 65 million years ago, at around the same time as the extinction of dinosaurs, but when they were extant, the largest of them were "the largest creatures to have flown".

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Few English miracle plays are extant, because they were banned by Henry VIII in the mid-16th century and most were subsequently destroyed or lost.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Linear and squared change parsimony are preferred over other more complicated methods when all species are extant (as they must be here, for accurate counts of cell types) [ 52].

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Books I V are extant.

Encyclopedia Britannica

None of Diodorus' writings are extant.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Anonymous 17th-century epithalamiums are extant.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they are extant" when referring to documents, species, or other entities that have survived to the present day, especially in formal or scientific contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "they are extant" in everyday conversation or informal writing. Simpler alternatives like "they still exist" or "they are still around" are often more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they are extant" functions as a predicate adjective phrase, describing the state of being of a plural subject. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is correct and usable, indicating that something still exists. It's primarily used in contexts where precision and formality are valued.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

41%

Encyclopedias

26%

News & Media

23%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they are extant" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to indicate that something still exists, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While not very common, it is best suited for formal and scientific contexts, as evidenced by its frequent appearance in scientific journals, encyclopedias, and news articles. For more casual settings, simpler alternatives like "they still exist" are more appropriate. Remember to use "they are extant" when precision and formality are needed, and avoid it in everyday conversation to maintain an appropriate tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they still exist

Uses more common vocabulary; suitable for general audiences.

they are still in existence

More verbose, emphasizing continued existence.

they have survived

Focuses on the act of enduring to the present.

they remain

Highlights that something continues to be present.

they are preserved

Emphasizes the maintenance of their condition.

they are conserved

Similar to 'preserved' but can imply some effort to retain something.

they are persistent

Focuses more on lasting or continuing for a long time.

they endure

Highlights the continuation over time, often implying difficulty.

they are available

Shifts the focus to accessibility rather than pure existence.

they are present

Simple statement of being in a particular place or condition.

FAQs

What does "they are extant" mean?

The phrase "they are extant" means that something still exists or is currently in existence. It's often used in formal writing or scientific contexts to refer to documents, species, or other entities that have survived to the present day.

How can I use "they are extant" in a sentence?

You can use "they are extant" to indicate that certain items or beings have not disappeared or become extinct. For example: "Despite the passage of time, several original manuscripts from the 18th century "are extant" and available for study."

What can I say instead of "they are extant"?

You can use alternatives like "they still exist", "they remain", or "they are still in existence" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "they are extant" or "they still exist"?

The choice depends on the context and the level of formality desired. "They are extant" is more formal and often used in scientific or academic writing. "They still exist" is more common and suitable for general audiences.