they really were

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they really were" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to emphasize the truth or reality of a statement about a group of people or things in a past context. Example: "Despite the challenges they faced, they really were the best team I had ever worked with."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They really were.

The New York Times

They really were cross.

The Guardian

They really were thinking big.

The Guardian - Film

They really were very hot.

The New Yorker

Officials maintained they really were dragonflies.

The Economist

They really were out to get him.

Independent

Those were hard times, they really were.

The Guardian

They couldn't know where they really were".

The New York Times - Books

They existed and they really were wonders.

The New Yorker

Nope, they really were girls after all!

The Guardian

They really were involved on Saturday afternoon.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they really were" to emphasize a past state or condition, especially when there might be doubt or surprise. For example, "Despite the rumors, they really were dedicated to their work."

Common error

Avoid using "they really were" excessively in contexts where the emphasis is not needed. Overuse can dilute the impact and make your writing sound repetitive. Instead, use it sparingly for genuine emphasis.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they really were" functions as an emphatic affirmation in past tense. It underscores the veracity of a preceding statement, adding conviction. As Ludwig AI shows, the phrase is common in various contexts to reinforce a truth that might be questioned or doubted.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Science

12%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they really were" serves as an emphatic affirmation in the past tense. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage across diverse contexts, particularly in news and media. To enhance clarity and impact, consider related phrases like "they truly were" or "they actually were". While versatile, avoid overuse to maintain its emphatic effect. Use "they really were" to stress the truth and to convince your audience of a specific state or quality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they truly were

Emphasizes the truth of a previous statement with 'truly' instead of 'really'.

they genuinely were

Replaces 'really' with 'genuinely' to indicate sincerity or authenticity.

they actually were

Substitutes 'really' with 'actually' to highlight the fact that something is true.

they indeed were

Uses 'indeed' in place of 'really' for a more formal confirmation.

they certainly were

Replaces 'really' with 'certainly' to express confidence in the statement's truth.

they definitely were

Emphasizes the certainty of the statement by using 'definitely' instead of 'really'.

they absolutely were

Substitutes 'really' with 'absolutely' to express complete agreement or affirmation.

they honestly were

Replaces 'really' with 'honestly' to emphasize sincerity in the statement.

that's exactly what they were

Adds more words to the original phrase to give a response as a re-affirmation or a restatement to emphasize

they were just as described

Adds more words to the original phrase to highlight the way the person/object/event were expected to be.

FAQs

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

You can use "they really were" to emphasize a quality or state in the past. For instance, "Despite their initial appearance, "they really were" dedicated to the cause."

What phrases are similar to "they really were"?

Alternatives include "they truly were", "they genuinely were", or "they actually were". Each carries a slightly different nuance of emphasis.

Is "they really was" grammatically correct?

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

When is it appropriate to use "they really were" instead of simply "they were"?

Use "they really were" when you want to emphasize the truth or unexpectedness of a statement. It adds a layer of conviction that "they were" alone lacks. For example, if people doubted their commitment, you might say "they really were" committed.