they were afraid of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were afraid of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express fear or apprehension regarding a person, situation, or object. Example: "They were afraid of the dark and refused to go outside at night."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Perhaps they were afraid of Ms Riza.

The Economist

"They were afraid of getting primaries.

The New York Times

They were afraid of us.

The New York Times

They were afraid of it.

The Guardian - Business

They were afraid of water.

The Guardian - Film

They were afraid of the taxman.

The Guardian - Business

They were afraid of what was coming.

The New York Times - Magazine

Perhaps they were afraid of authority?

Harvard Business Review

What they were afraid of has happened.

The Guardian

"They were afraid of being blown up.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

I don't know what they were afraid of--a fistfight, or what?

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "they were afraid of", ensure that the subject clearly identifies who is experiencing the fear and that the object specifies what is causing the fear. For clarity, avoid vague pronouns or ambiguous references.

Common error

Avoid using "they were afraid of" without specifying a clear and tangible object of fear. Overly abstract or generalized statements can weaken the impact and clarity of your message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were afraid of" functions as a predicate adjective phrase. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread use. The phrase expresses a state of being, specifically the emotional state of fear experienced by a group toward a particular object, person, or situation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they were afraid of" is a common and grammatically correct way to express fear or apprehension experienced by a group. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and broad usage. Primarily found in neutral contexts like news and media, this phrase effectively communicates emotional states and motivations. For situations demanding increased formality, alternatives such as "they were apprehensive about" may be considered.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were scared of

Replaces "afraid" with the more informal "scared".

they were frightened by

Substitutes "afraid" with "frightened" and adjusts the preposition to "by".

they were apprehensive about

Replaces "afraid" with "apprehensive", maintaining a similar level of formality and using "about" instead of "of".

they felt apprehension about

Replaces "afraid" with a more formal term, "apprehension", and uses "about" instead of "of".

they were petrified of

Replaces "afraid" with "petrified", indicating extreme fear.

they were worried about

Uses "worried" as a more general term for fear or concern.

they had anxieties concerning

Uses "anxieties" to convey fear, adding a layer of worry, and uses "concerning" for a more formal tone.

they dreaded

Emphasizes anticipation of something fearful or unpleasant.

they were intimidated by

Conveys a sense of fear induced by feeling overpowered or threatened.

they lived in terror of

Highlights a state of constant fear.

FAQs

How can I use "they were afraid of" in a sentence?

This phrase is used to indicate that a group of people felt fear or apprehension towards something. For example, "They were afraid of the dark" or "They were afraid of the consequences if they failed".

What is a more formal alternative to "they were afraid of"?

A more formal alternative could be "they were apprehensive about" or "they felt apprehension towards".

Is it correct to say "they were afraid from" instead of "they were afraid of"?

No, the correct preposition to use with "afraid" in this context is "of". "They were afraid from" is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "they were scared of" and "they were afraid of"?

The phrase "they were scared of" is generally considered more informal than "they were afraid of", but both convey a similar meaning of fear or apprehension.