they cried together

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they cried together" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where two or more people are expressing their emotions simultaneously, often in a context of shared grief or joy. Example: "After hearing the heartbreaking news, they cried together, finding solace in each other's presence."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

They cried together.

The New York Times

Then they cried together.

The New York Times

Later, after watching their son throw his first N.F.L. touchdown pass and win his first game, they cried together.

The New York Times - Sports

But the woman from Mississippi put a consoling arm on his shoulder, and he let go and they cried together.

The New York Times

Miki read "Genovefa of Braband" to Suzanna as she darned her socks and afterward they cried together.

The New Yorker

The enduring moment for Lowe was Filipaina joining his mother on stage after the third Test and they cried together in joy.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

The girl's father takes her to the forest, where they cry together, but she can't feel the tickle of the departed butterflies on her arm.

The New York Times - Books

The Army investigator who shows up to question Tripp about My Lai turns out to be "a good, decent guy" and they cry together.

The New York Times - Books

At readings, the Christians and the gays laugh together, which pleases me, and then they cry together in the book-singing line, which pleases my sentimental father.

Huffington Post

It was a special joy seeing them cry together as they recalled their friendship: they had once loved one another, and said "may be in the next world, we will have a chance to be together".

Huffington Post

Mr. Hileman said that he saw Christina's father on Monday for the first time since the shooting and that for 10 minutes they said nothing as they simply cried together.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they cried together" to depict a shared emotional experience, often highlighting empathy, grief, or joy among individuals. It's useful in narratives where emotional connection is key.

Common error

While "they cried together" effectively conveys shared emotion, overuse can make writing melodramatic. Balance it with realistic reactions and avoid clichés.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they cried together" primarily functions as a descriptive statement within a narrative. It portrays a shared emotional experience, emphasizing empathy and connection between individuals, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they cried together" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote a shared emotional experience, mainly in the realm of News & Media. According to Ludwig, its function is descriptive, serving to convey a sense of empathy and human connection. While versatile, overuse in overly sentimental contexts should be avoided. Alternatives such as "they shared tears" or "they wept together" can provide nuanced variations. The prevalence of this phrase across authoritative sources underscores its acceptability and widespread understanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they shared tears

Emphasizes the sharing of tears, highlighting the emotional connection.

they wept together

Uses a more formal verb ("wept") to describe the act of crying, suggesting a deeper sorrow.

they grieved together

Focuses on the shared experience of grief, implying a cause for their sadness.

they consoled each other with tears

Highlights the act of comforting one another while crying, adding a layer of mutual support.

they shed tears jointly

Uses more formal and less common words to convey the same meaning.

they had a good cry together

Indicates a more cathartic or relieving crying experience.

they sobbed in unison

Implies a synchronized expression of sorrow, intensifying the shared experience.

tears flowed between them

A more poetic way of describing shared crying, focusing on the tears as a connection.

they found solace in shared tears

Highlights the comforting aspect of crying together.

they mourned together, tears streaming down their faces

Adds a visual and emotional detail to the act of mourning, emphasizing the intensity of their shared sorrow.

FAQs

How can I use "they cried together" in a sentence?

You can use "they cried together" to show a shared emotional experience, for instance, "After hearing the news, "they cried together", finding comfort in each other's presence".

What are some alternatives to "they cried together"?

Alternatives include phrases like "they shared tears", "they wept together", or "they grieved together", each conveying a slightly different nuance of shared sorrow or emotion.

Is it grammatically correct to say "they cried together"?

Yes, "they cried together" is grammatically correct. "They" is a plural pronoun, "cried" is the past tense of the verb "to cry", and "together" is an adverb modifying the verb, indicating that the action was performed jointly.

What's the difference between "they cried together" and "they cried separately"?

"They cried together" indicates a shared emotional experience, suggesting empathy and connection. "They cried separately", on the other hand, suggests individual sorrow without a shared emotional bond, highlighting isolation rather than unity.