they had value

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they had value" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the worth or importance of something in a past context. Example: "The artifacts discovered in the excavation were not just old; they had value to historians and collectors alike."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

But they had value.

The New Yorker

"They had value to me".

The New York Times

He told the young men that he loved them, that they had value to their community, and that he knew they were better than their violent actions implied.

The New Yorker

If I throw them out, isn't that dismissive of her memory and things that she obviously kept because they had value?

The New York Times

But he maintained that, although his arguments were not "demonstrations" (i.e., proofs), they had value for the discovery of results about these figures.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"All our family wants is the acknowledgement that our family members matter, that they had value, because they certainly had value in our families' lives".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

As they had valued education, he had valued education.

Forbes

Children were categorised as having a low dietary Ca/P if they had values < 0.33 [10.33

Bone

They had valued the experience of meeting others with bipolar disorder.

BMC Psychiatry

"They have value because people think they have value".

The New York Times

But they have value nonetheless.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they had value" to emphasize past importance or worth, particularly when contrasting with a present state or reassessing historical significance.

Common error

Avoid shifting tenses inappropriately. Ensure that the surrounding sentences maintain a consistent past tense when using "they had value". For example, don't mix it with present tense without a clear reason.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they had value" functions as a statement ascribing worth or importance to a subject in the past. This aligns with Ludwig's assessment, indicating grammatical correctness and real-world usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they had value" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to convey that something or someone was considered important or useful in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides various real-world examples from sources like The New York Times and The Guardian. While "they had value" is not as common as other expressions, its use is appropriate in various contexts, particularly when emphasizing a past assessment of worth.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were valuable

Replaces "had value" with a more direct adjective.

they possessed worth

Uses a more formal and emphatic vocabulary.

they were precious

Implies a sense of rarity and high esteem.

they held significance

Focuses on the importance or meaning they carried.

they were meaningful

Highlights the personal or emotional importance.

they were important

A more general statement of their significance.

they were useful

Emphasizes practical utility.

they had merit

Highlights praiseworthiness or excellence.

they counted

Suggests that they mattered or had an impact.

they were prized

Indicates that they were highly valued or cherished.

FAQs

How can I use "they had value" in a sentence?

Use "they had value" to indicate that something or someone was considered important or useful in the past. For example: "Although the old tools were rusty, "they had value" to the farmers who relied on them."

What can I say instead of "they had value"?

You can use alternatives like "they were valuable", "they possessed worth", or "they were significant", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "they have value" instead of "they had value"?

The choice between "they have value" and "they had value" depends on the time frame you are referring to. Use "they have value" to indicate present worth, and "they had value" to indicate past worth.

What is the difference between "they had value" and "they were valuable"?

While both phrases convey a similar meaning, ""they had value"" often implies a deeper assessment or a recognition of worth, whereas "they were valuable" is a more direct statement of worth.