they were aware of

USAGE SUMMARY

"they were aware of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to state that people had knowledge of something. For example, "They were aware of the risks involved in their business venture."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"The team, they were aware of that.

The New York Times

They were aware of our crisis; they felt implicated.

The New York Times - Books

The Nets said they were aware of the situation.

The New York Times

Suddenly, they were aware of how peaceful they felt.

The New York Times

The Giants said they were aware of Bradshaw's situation.

The New York Times - Sports

They were aware of all this information too..

The Guardian

MI5 could not monitor every suspect they were aware of.

The Guardian

They were aware of the significance of small things.

The New York Times

The Mariners said they were aware of Bradley's arrest.

The New York Times

They were aware of the contrast but undaunted.

The New York Times

Yes, they said, they were aware of the doppelgängers.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they were aware of" to clearly indicate that a group possessed specific knowledge or understanding about a situation, fact, or event.

Common error

Be direct and avoid using passive constructions where the subject of awareness is unclear. Instead of "it was aware of", specify who or what "they" refers to.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were aware of" functions as a declarative statement expressing that a group or entity had knowledge or understanding about something. Ludwig examples show its use in contexts where awareness is crucial to the narrative or situation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

23%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they were aware of" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that a group possessed knowledge about something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across various contexts, particularly in news and media, science, and academic writing. When using this phrase, ensure clarity about who "they" refers to and avoid passive voice constructions. Alternatives like "they were conscious of" or "they knew about" can be used depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis. This phrase serves to inform the audience about a party's knowledge, which sets the foundation for any narrative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were conscious of

Emphasizes a state of being fully aware and attentive to something; slightly more formal.

they were cognizant of

A more formal synonym, highlighting an intellectual awareness or understanding.

they were mindful of

Highlights that they were not only aware, but also considering the implications of something.

they had knowledge of

A straightforward way of saying they possessed information about something.

they knew about

A more casual and common way to express awareness.

they were informed about

Suggests that they received information from an external source.

they understood

Focuses on comprehension rather than just awareness.

they were apprised of

A highly formal way of saying they were notified or informed.

they were no strangers to

Implies familiarity and past experience with something.

it was not unknown to them

A more roundabout way of saying they were aware, often used for emphasis.

FAQs

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

Use "they were aware of" to indicate that a group possessed knowledge or understanding of a particular fact, situation, or risk. For example, "They were aware of the potential dangers involved in the experiment."

What are some alternatives to "they were aware of"?

You can use alternatives such as "they were conscious of", "they were mindful of", or "they knew about" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "they was aware of"?

No, the correct form is "they were aware of". "They" is a plural pronoun and requires the plural form of the verb "to be", which is "were".

What's the difference between "they were aware of" and "they became aware of"?

"They were aware of" indicates a pre-existing state of knowledge. "They became aware of" implies a process of gaining knowledge or realization. It describes when the knowledge transitioned from unknown to known.