they were absent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were absent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that individuals were not present at a specific time or event. Example: "During the meeting, they were absent due to a prior commitment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They were absent from the collection.

The New York Times

They were absent from truancy court.

The New York Times

"They were absent from Staten Island for at least a century," Toth said.

The New Yorker

Much as they were absent a coach, the Knicks have been lacking a vision.

The New York Times

They were absent during the first half Sunday, when the Chargers scored 21 points.

The New York Times - Sports

Then the judge ruled that they would not be called to testify because they were absent.

The New York Times

These are all issues being debated in energy circles but they were absent from this week's political punch-ups.

The Guardian

They were absent entirely from the site of the shooting of the protester, even when a group of young anarchists attacked a Japanese television journalist.

The New York Times

Even though they were absent from the performance I attended (bad weather had caused school audiences to cancel), it was easy to imagine them enthralled.

The New York Times

Although those three riders were included in Rock Racing's preliminary start list, they were absent when the final roster was released Thursday.

The New York Times - Sports

Because they were absent during the first Israeli census of Arabs, being seen as illegal "infiltrators" and "present-absent aliens", the family were denied Israeli nationality.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they were absent" to clearly indicate the non-presence of individuals in a specific context. This phrase is straightforward and easily understood in both formal and informal settings.

Common error

Avoid using "they was absent" as it's grammatically incorrect. Always use "were" with the pronoun "they" to maintain proper subject-verb agreement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were absent" functions as a statement indicating the non-presence of a group of individuals. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and wide applicability across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

64%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they were absent" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote the lack of presence of individuals in a particular context. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage spans across various domains, including news, science, and general conversation. While alternatives like "they were missing" or "they were not present" exist, "they were absent" remains a clear and effective choice. It's important to maintain correct verb tense agreement by avoiding constructions like "they was absent". This phrase serves primarily to inform about non-attendance and maintains a neutral register suitable for diverse audiences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were missing

Direct synonym indicating a lack of presence.

they were not there

Simple and direct way to state their absence.

they were not present

Formal alternative expressing the same idea of absence.

they were away

Suggests a temporary absence.

they were unavailable

Indicates they could not be reached or were not accessible.

they were out

Informal way of saying they were not in a particular place.

they did not attend

Specifically refers to absence from an event or meeting.

they were nowhere to be found

Emphasizes their absence and implies a search for them was unsuccessful.

they were excluded

Implies they were intentionally left out or not allowed to participate.

they were exempt

Indicates they were excused or did not need to be present.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "they were absent"?

You can use alternatives like "they were missing", "they were not present", or "they were unavailable" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "they was absent"?

No, it is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "they were absent". The plural pronoun "they" requires the plural form of the verb "to be", which is "were".

How to use "they were absent" in a sentence?

You can use "they were absent" to indicate the non-presence of individuals. For example, "They were absent from the meeting due to prior commitments."

What's the difference between "they were absent" and "they were excluded"?

"They were absent" simply means they were not present, while "they were excluded" implies they were intentionally left out or prevented from being present.