they spent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they spent" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the action of using time, money, or resources in a particular way. Example: "They spent the entire weekend working on the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They spent more.

The New Yorker

They spent hours together alone.

The New York Times

They spent the day together.

The New York Times

They spent approximately $171.5 million.

The New Yorker

They spent billions of dollars.

The New York Times

"They spent endless time together.

The New York Times

"They spent the last 20 months politicking.

The New York Times

They spent their allocations long ago.

The New York Times - Sports

They spent the evening preparing paper banners.

The New York Times

They spent all of their time together.

The New Yorker

They spent generously on his behalf.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "they spent", ensure that the context clearly indicates what "they" refers to, as well as what was spent (time, money, effort, etc.) for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "they spent" if the subject "they" is ambiguous or hasn't been clearly established in the preceding text. This can confuse readers and weaken your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they spent" primarily functions as a verb phrase, where "they" is the subject pronoun and "spent" is the past tense form of the verb "spend". Ludwig AI confirms this is a standard usage pattern, indicating a completed action of using resources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they spent" is a common and grammatically sound verb phrase used to describe how a group allocated resources, time or money. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across diverse contexts, predominantly in news and media, reflecting a neutral register. When using "they spent", clarity is key: ensure the subject "they" and the object of "spent" are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. Remember to use the correct tense, as "they spend" refers to the present while "they spent" indicates a past action. For alternative expressions, consider "they allocated", "they invested", or "they devoted" depending on the specific nuance you aim to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they allocated

Focuses on the deliberate distribution of resources for a specific purpose.

they utilized

Highlights the efficient and effective use of resources.

they invested

Implies using resources with the expectation of future benefit or return.

they disbursed

Focuses on the act of distributing money, often in an official or formal context.

they devoted

Highlights the commitment of time or resources to a particular cause or activity.

they laid out

Suggests a deliberate and organized spending of money or resources.

they consumed

Emphasizes the using up of resources, often in a more general or passive sense.

they shelled out

An informal way to express spending money, often implying reluctance or a large sum.

they forked over

Similar to "shelled out", this implies reluctance or compulsion in spending money.

they blew

An informal term suggesting they wasted money.

FAQs

How can I use "they spent" in a sentence?

Use "they spent" to indicate the use of resources like time or money. For example, "They spent hours preparing the presentation" or "They spent a lot of money on renovations".

What are some alternatives to "they spent"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "they allocated", "they invested", or "they devoted".

Is it correct to say "they spend" instead of "they spent"?

No, "they spend" is present tense, while "they spent" is past tense. Use "they spent" when referring to actions that have already occurred.

What's the difference between "they spent" and "they wasted"?

"They spent" simply indicates the use of resources. "They wasted" implies that the resources were used inefficiently or without achieving a desired outcome.