they were conscious

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were conscious" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a state of awareness or alertness in individuals. Example: "After the accident, they were conscious and able to respond to questions." Alternative expressions include "they were aware" and "they were alert."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

Because they were conscious of her, everyone made an effort to say witty and interesting things.

The New Yorker

"That does not mean that they were conscious, but they had breath and circulation," he said.

The New York Times

But they were conscious of the significance of the place, and it was not unwelcome to them.

The Guardian

But they were conscious that even more difficult and probably more important negotiations were under way in Beijing.

The Economist

"Ok, maybe they were conscious when you asked them if they wanted tea, and they said 'yes'yes

Independent

Mostly, though, they were conscious not to let Buehrle take control by getting ahead in the count.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

They're conscious.

The New York Times - Magazine

They are conscious of their global influence.

The Guardian - Tech

Instead they are conscious of being depression children.

The New Yorker

Yet even they are conscious of Cosgrove's image.

The New York Times - Magazine

These questions raise the basic question of how we know whether another person is conscious at all -- and, if they are conscious, what they're conscious of.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair the phrase with the preposition "of" to specify the object of their awareness, such as in "they were conscious of the risks".

Common error

Avoid using "conscious" when you mean that someone was diligent or hardworking. While "they were conscious" means they were aware, "they were conscientious" means they were thorough and careful in their duties.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were conscious" functions as a past-tense declarative statement describing the internal state or medical condition of a plural subject. According to Ludwig AI, it is primarily used to indicate that the subjects were not only awake but also mentally present or aware of their surroundings or specific facts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Informal

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they were conscious" is a versatile and highly reliable English expression. Ludwig examples demonstrate its robustness across medical, journalistic and academic fields. It effectively bridges the gap between describing a physical state of alertness and a mental state of recognition. Whether reporting on a medical emergency or a collective group's realization of a social issue, this phrase remains a precise choice for any writer. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is most frequently followed by the preposition "of" or used as a standalone predicate to confirm the subjects' responsiveness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were aware

More general and used for knowledge of a fact rather than just a physical state.

they were cognizant

Provides a more formal or legalistic tone regarding the possession of knowledge.

they were mindful

Suggests a deliberate and careful attention to a specific detail or consequence.

they were alert

Emphasizes physical readiness and quickness in perception rather than just being awake.

they were sentient

Used in biological or philosophical contexts to denote the capacity for feeling.

they were awake

Specifically refers to the physical state of not being asleep, without implying deeper awareness.

they were intentional

Focuses on the purposefulness of their actions rather than their state of mind.

they were sensible

An older or more literary way to say they were aware of something through the senses.

they were apprized

Specifically means they had been given information or notified of something.

they were responsive

Often used in medical contexts to show they reacted to stimuli.

FAQs

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

You can use it to describe medical status, as in "The patients were injured but "they were conscious"," or to describe awareness, as in "They proceeded because "they were conscious of" the necessity."

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

Depending on your context, you might use "they were aware", "they were cognizant" or "they were awake".

Which is correct, "they were conscious" or "they were aware"?

Both are grammatically correct. Use ""they were conscious"" when referring to a state of being or a deep internal realization and "they were aware" for general knowledge of external facts.

What's the difference between "they were conscious" and "they were sentient"?

While ""they were conscious"" often refers to a temporary state of being awake, "they were sentient" refers to the fundamental biological capacity to have subjective experiences.