they found themselves

USAGE SUMMARY

"they found themselves" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it when talking about a group of people discovering something about themselves, or coming to a realization about something. For example: After spending days lost in the woods, they found themselves exhausted and famished.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Soon they found themselves having long conversations.

The New Yorker

They found themselves having epiphanies.

The New York Times

That's the situation they found themselves in.

The Guardian - Sport

Often they found themselves blocked by rivals.

The New York Times - Books

"They were conscripted, and they found themselves in a hellhole.

The New Yorker

In 1931, they found themselves in Los Angeles breadline.

The New Yorker

As the joke continued, they found themselves actually considering it.

The New York Times

Instead they found themselves crammed in with 500 other immigrants.

The Economist

Instead they found themselves staring into a thick brown haze.

The Economist

But they found themselves in an awkward place.

The New Yorker

They found themselves discussing the importance of family.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they found themselves" to describe a situation or realization that occurs as a consequence of previous actions or events. It adds a sense of narrative and unexpectedness to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "they found themselves" when you mean to say "they found each other". "Themselves" implies a reflexive action, whereas "each other" indicates a reciprocal action between two or more people.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they found themselves" functions as a verb phrase, expressing a state or situation that a group of people encountered or realized they were in. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is both grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

86%

Wiki

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they found themselves" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb phrase to describe a situation or realization that a group of people encountered. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it is correct and versatile, fitting various registers. Predominantly found in news and media sources, the phrase effectively conveys a sense of unexpected consequence or discovery. While alternatives such as "they ended up in" or "they realized they were in" exist, "they found themselves" remains a succinct and narrative-rich choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they ended up in

Focuses on the resulting location or situation rather than the process of getting there.

they wound up in

Similar to 'ended up in', emphasizing the unexpected nature of the outcome.

they discovered themselves in

Highlights a sense of self-discovery within a new situation or context.

they realized they were in

Emphasizes the act of realizing or becoming aware of their current state.

they were suddenly in

Highlights the abrupt and unexpected nature of finding themselves in a situation.

they were placed in

Suggests an external force or circumstance led them to that position.

they were confronted with

Focuses on the challenge or problem they encountered.

they became subject to

Highlights the idea of being under the influence or control of something.

they were exposed to

Focuses on the experience or influence they were subjected to.

they experienced

Broadly describes their encounter with a particular situation or feeling.

FAQs

How can I use "they found themselves" in a sentence?

Use "they found themselves" to describe a situation that a group unexpectedly encountered, often as a result of their previous actions. For instance, 'After taking the wrong turn, they found themselves lost in the woods'.

What can I say instead of "they found themselves"?

You can use alternatives like "they ended up in", "they wound up in", or "they realized they were in" depending on the specific context.

Is "they found them" grammatically correct instead of "they found themselves"?

No, "they found them" is grammatically different. "They found them" means they discovered or located other people, while "they found themselves" means they realized or discovered their own situation.

What's the difference between "they found themselves" and "they discovered themselves"?

"They found themselves" typically refers to an external situation, while "they discovered themselves" often implies an internal realization or self-discovery within that situation.