they were away

USAGE SUMMARY

'they were away' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation in which someone is not currently present or available. For example, "The students were away during the summer break, so the school was empty."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They were away on vacation.

The New York Times

Sadly, bad things happened while they were away.

The Guardian - Sport

Also, he kept them busy when they were away from him.

The New York Times

They were away for about the right amount of time, where people remember that record fondly".

The New York Times - Arts

They were away from home too much, he said, especially if they were successful.

The New York Times

In the event, they were away for most of the next decade.

The New Yorker

While they were away shooting, Mr. Morris decided to take photographs himself.

The New York Times

Um Kamal, a homemaker, said her house and a relative's were plundered while they were away.

The New York Times

Her parents had let her use the house while they were away.

The New Yorker

They had asked him to look after their houses while they were away.

The New Yorker

They showed us respect on Friday because they were away from home.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they were away" to describe a temporary absence of a group from a specific location or activity. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "they were away" when referring to a single person or entity. Instead, use "he was away" or "she was away" for individuals, or "it was away" for singular entities.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were away" functions as a descriptor indicating the absence of a group of individuals from a particular place or event. Ludwig examples show this usage across diverse contexts. This is confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Academia

15%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they were away" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to denote the absence of a group from a specific location or event. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is suitable for diverse contexts, ranging from news and media to academic writing. When employing this phrase, ensure that the subject is indeed plural. For situations demanding greater precision, consider alternatives such as "they had left" or "they were not present". The context is key to conveying the intended meaning effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were out

A simple and common way of saying someone is not at a specific location.

they were off

Suggests a temporary absence, often for leisure or a short trip.

they had left

Focuses on the action of departing, implying a completed action of leaving.

they were elsewhere

Indicates that they were in another, unspecified location.

they were gone

Indicates a state of being no longer present, often with an implication of permanence.

they were absent

Implies a formal or official absence, such as from work or school.

they were not present

A more formal and direct way of stating that someone was not there.

they were on leave

Specifically indicates an authorized absence, typically from work or military service.

they were vacationing

Specifically refers to being away on vacation.

they were travelling

Highlights the act of being in transit or visiting different places.

FAQs

How can I use "they were away" in a sentence?

You can use "they were away" to describe a situation where a group of people is not present at a particular location or during a specific time. For instance, "They were away on vacation, so the house was empty."

What is a simple alternative to "they were away"?

A simpler alternative to "they were away" is "they were out". This is suitable for more informal contexts.

Is it correct to say "they was away"?

No, "they was away" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "they were away", as "were" is the plural past tense form of "to be".

What's the difference between "they were away" and "they left"?

"They were away" implies a temporary absence, while "they left" suggests a more permanent departure. The first focuses on the state of absence and the second focuses on the action of departing.