they probably were

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they probably were" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a likelihood or assumption about a past situation involving a group of people. Example: "Based on their behavior at the party, they probably were having a great time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

(They probably were stolen).

Britannica

And they probably were.

The Guardian - Opinion

Well, they probably were once.

The Guardian - Opinion

To be fair, they probably were.

Independent

They probably were, though they never pushed it.

The New Yorker

Then I realized they probably were really designed for.

The New York Times

They look as if they were made for each other, which they probably were.

The Guardian - Arts

They probably were spooned onto the dish just before it was served.

The New York Times

Their precise origin is unknown, but they probably were manufactured in the Mediterranean.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"They probably were eating more" than they jotted down, Mr. Rosenkilde speculates.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

They probably aren't.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for a more formal tone, consider alternatives like "it is probable that they were" or "they were likely". While grammatically correct, these alternatives add unnecessary length in casual writing.

Common error

Avoid using "they probably were" when you have concrete evidence or undeniable proof. The phrase implies uncertainty. Use stronger assertions when certainty exists. If you have absolute certainty, then rephrase it to "they were" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they probably were" serves as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate a degree of likelihood or probability regarding a past state or action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is both grammatically correct and widely applicable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

19%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they probably were" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adverbial phrase to express a degree of likelihood about a past event or situation involving a group of people. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and general applicability. While the phrase can appear in a variety of contexts, it's most frequent in news articles, scientific publications and encyclopedias. Keep in mind that if you are expressing certainty about something that was, then the correct structure is to avoid the word "probably" and use "they were".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they likely were

Replaces "probably" with "likely", indicating a strong possibility.

they presumably were

Substitutes "probably" with "presumably", suggesting an assumption based on reasonable evidence.

it's probable they were

Rephrases the sentence structure to emphasize the probability itself.

it is likely they were

Rephrases the sentence structure to emphasize the likelihood itself.

they might have been

Uses "might have been" to express a possibility, which is slightly weaker than "probably were".

they could have been

Similar to "might have been", indicating a possibility rather than a strong likelihood.

it's possible they were

Expresses a potential scenario using "possible" instead of "probable".

they may have been

Another way to suggest a possibility, similar in strength to "might have been".

one can assume they were

Shifts the focus to the act of assuming, implying a conclusion drawn from available information.

chances are they were

Uses an idiomatic expression to indicate a high probability.

FAQs

How can I use "they probably were" in a sentence?

Use "they probably were" to express a likely scenario or assumption about a group's actions or state in the past. For example: "Based on their laughter, "they probably were" enjoying the show".

What phrases are similar to "they probably were"?

Alternatives include "they likely were", "they presumably were", or "they might have been", each conveying varying degrees of certainty.

Is it correct to say "they probably was"?

No, "they probably was" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "they probably were" because "they" is a plural pronoun and requires the plural form of the verb "to be", which is "were".

What's the difference between "they probably were" and "they were probably"?

While both phrases are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning, "they probably were" places slightly more emphasis on the "were", while "they were probably" might sound more conversational. The choice often depends on the desired rhythm and emphasis in your sentence.