they saw that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they saw that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone observed or realized something specific. Example: "They saw that the project was falling behind schedule and decided to take action."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

They saw that arthritis was controlled.

The New Yorker

But witnesses talked about the strangeness they saw that night.

The New York Times

When they saw that scene, they kept me".

The New Yorker

They saw that idea made real in Selma, Alabama.

The Guardian

They saw that position first watered down by MEPs, then further hollowed out by member states.

BBC

When they saw that opening, they seized it.

Vice

In general, they saw that estimates of DFE tended to be more fat-tailed (platykurtic) than the exponential distribution.

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

They saw that.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Why can't they see that?

The Guardian

When guys come over here, they see that".

The New York Times - Sports

People will get happy when they see that!

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they saw that" to clearly indicate that a group of people observed something and drew a conclusion from it. Ensure the context makes it clear who "they" refers to.

Common error

Avoid using "they saw that" when it's not immediately obvious who "they" refers to. Ensure the antecedent of the pronoun is clear to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they saw that" functions as a clause connector, introducing a subordinate clause that explains what the subject ("they") understood or realized after observing something. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they saw that" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate that a group of people observed something and drew a conclusion or took action based on that observation. It's widely used in news, scientific writing, and other contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in English. Ensure that the pronoun "they" has a clear antecedent. While other phrases like "they noticed that" or "they realized that" can be used, "they saw that" specifically emphasizes the visual aspect of the observation leading to understanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they noticed that

Changes the verb "saw" to "noticed", emphasizing a slightly more passive observation.

they realized that

Replaces "saw" with "realized", highlighting the cognitive aspect of understanding something.

they observed that

Uses "observed" instead of "saw", suggesting a more formal or scientific observation.

they understood that

Emphasizes comprehension rather than just visual perception.

it was apparent to them that

Shifts the focus to the clarity of the situation, rather than their act of seeing.

they came to understand that

Highlights the process of arriving at an understanding.

they perceived that

Uses "perceived", suggesting a more nuanced or interpretative understanding.

they gathered that

Implies that the understanding was based on multiple pieces of information.

they determined that

Suggests a more formal or investigative conclusion.

they ascertained that

Implies a careful and deliberate discovery of something.

FAQs

How can I use "they saw that" in a sentence?

Use "they saw that" to indicate that a group of people observed something and understood its implications. For example, "They saw that the project was behind schedule and took immediate action".

What are some alternatives to "they saw that"?

You can use alternatives like "they noticed that", "they realized that", or "they observed that" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "they saw that" and "they realized that"?

"They saw that" primarily indicates visual observation leading to understanding. "They realized that", on the other hand, focuses more on the cognitive process of understanding, even if visual observation wasn't involved. Both are correct, but can slightly change the emphasis of the idea.

When is it best to use "they saw that" in writing?

Use "they saw that" when you want to emphasize that a group's understanding came directly from observing something. If the understanding came from reasoning or other non-visual cues, other phrases like "they understood that" might be more appropriate.