they were currently

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were currently" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to refer to something that has been happening or is happening at this moment. For example, "They were currently discussing some of the upcoming changes to the company policy."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Participants reported whether or not they were currently in paid employment, current smoking status, and weekly alcohol intake by questionnaire.

Plosone

Participants were classified as current smokers if they answered that they were currently smoking.

Ethnicity and Health

More than 52% reported that they were currently microchipping horses.

Journal of Equine Veterinary Science

Both said they were currently living in Norfolk.

The Guardian

Everyday, the students and teacher started class with everyone stating how they were currently feeling.

University of California, Berkeley

I like the ideas you endorse, and wish they were currently implemented more effectively.

University of California, Berkeley

A few developers said that they were currently building comparable buildings at similar costs.

The New York Times

Platinum's principals said they were currently managing close to 50 apartments for investors, both international and domestic.

The New York Times

None of them wanted their names disclosed and all said they were currently in hiding in Azerbaijan.

The Guardian

The police said that they were currently going through 9,200 pages of material seized from Mr. Mulcaire.

The New York Times

We need 200 to cover the whole city," he said, saying that they were currently filling 92 more positions.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they were currently" to clearly indicate an action or state that was in progress at a specific time in the past. For example, "They were currently reviewing the data when the power went out."

Common error

Avoid using "they were currently" when referring to future events. It's designed for past actions in progress. For future scenarios, consider using "they will be currently" or rephrasing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were currently" functions as a past progressive construction, indicating an action or state that was in progress at a specific point in the past. As Ludwig highlights, it signifies an ongoing activity during a particular timeframe.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

52%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they were currently" is a grammatically sound and versatile phrase used to describe actions in progress at a specific time in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across diverse contexts, from scientific research to news reporting. While alternatives exist, "they were currently" provides a clear and concise way to convey ongoing activity in the past. Remember to avoid confusing it with future tense and use it appropriately to enhance clarity in your writing. The phrase is most frequently found in Science and News & Media contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were presently

Substitutes "currently" with a synonym, maintaining the same meaning.

they were actively

Emphasizes the active nature of the action being performed.

they were in the process of

Replaces "currently" with a more descriptive phrase indicating an ongoing action.

they were at this time

Replaces "currently" with a more formal phrase indicating the present moment.

at the present time they were

Formal alternative with emphasis on present.

they were now

Uses "now" to indicate the present time, offering a simpler alternative.

they were just then

Expresses immediacy of an action in the past.

at that moment they were

Emphasizes a specific point in time when the action was happening.

during that period they were

Highlights that the action was ongoing during a particular period.

they happened to be

Indicates a coincidental or chance occurrence of the action.

FAQs

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

Use "they were currently" to describe an action or state that was happening at a specific time in the past. For example, "They were currently negotiating the contract when the deadline arrived."

What are some alternatives to "they were currently"?

You can use phrases like "they were presently", "they were in the process of", or "they were at this time" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "they are currently" instead of "they were currently"?

The choice between "they are currently" and "they were currently" depends on the time frame you're referencing. Use "they are currently" to describe an action happening now, and "they were currently" to describe an action that was happening at a specific time in the past.

What is the difference between "they were currently" and "they had been"?

"They were currently" describes an action in progress at a specific point in the past, while "they had been" describes an action that was completed before a specific point in the past. For instance, "They were currently working on the project" means they were in the middle of it. "They had been working on the project" means they finished it before some other event.