they were excited

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were excited" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a group of people who are feeling enthusiasm or eagerness about something. Example: "When the concert tickets went on sale, they were excited to finally see their favorite band live."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

They were excited.

The New Yorker

Still, they were excited.

The New Yorker

"They were excited, too.

The New York Times - Sports

But they were excited, too.

The New York Times

They were excited about it.

The New York Times - Sports

"They were excited and scared.

The Guardian - Books

"They were excited about the new school".

The New York Times

"They were excited," he said, smiling.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

They're excited.

The New York Times - Magazine

They are excited, very excited.

The New York Times - Sports

So they're excited.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they were excited" to clearly and directly express the enthusiasm or eagerness of a group towards a particular event, idea, or prospect. Ensure that the context provides sufficient information about what caused their excitement.

Common error

Avoid using "they were excited" in highly formal or academic writing where more sophisticated vocabulary might be preferred. Consider stronger synonyms such as "they felt exhilarated" or "they displayed considerable enthusiasm" in such contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were excited" functions as a descriptive statement, indicating the emotional state of a group of people. As Ludwig AI states, this phrase is frequently employed to directly communicate a feeling of enthusiasm or eagerness within a group.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Formal & Business

17%

Academia

16%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they were excited" is a grammatically sound and widely used phrase to describe a group's enthusiasm or eagerness. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Its primary function is descriptive, communicating a positive emotional state. While generally neutral in register, it is most frequently found in news and media, business, and academic contexts. For more formal writing, alternatives like "they felt exhilarated" or "they displayed considerable enthusiasm" may be more suitable. Remember to always provide enough context to explain the source of their excitement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they felt thrilled

Replaces "excited" with "thrilled", indicating a higher degree of excitement.

they were enthusiastic

Substitutes "excited" with "enthusiastic", emphasizing eagerness and passion.

they were eager

Replaces "excited" with "eager", highlighting anticipation and impatience.

they were anticipating with pleasure

Emphasizes the positive anticipation associated with excitement.

they were full of anticipation

Highlights the feeling of expectation and excitement.

they were on the edge of their seats

Idiomatic expression indicating extreme excitement and suspense.

their hearts raced with anticipation

Uses figurative language to describe the physical sensation of excitement.

they were animated

Indicates liveliness and enthusiasm stemming from excitement.

they were overjoyed

Replaces "excited" with "overjoyed", indicating a stronger sense of happiness and delight.

they felt a surge of exhilaration

Conveys a sudden and intense feeling of excitement and happiness.

FAQs

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

You can use "they were excited" to describe a group's feelings of enthusiasm or eagerness. For instance, "They were excited about the upcoming vacation" or "They were excited to hear the news".

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

You can use alternatives like "they were thrilled", "they were enthusiastic", or "they were eager" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "they were excited" grammatically correct?

Yes, "they were excited" is grammatically correct. "They" is a plural pronoun, "were" is the past tense of the verb "to be", and "excited" is an adjective describing their state.

What is the difference between "they were excited" and "they got excited"?

"They were excited" describes a state of being, suggesting a continuous feeling of excitement. "They got excited" implies a transition into a state of excitement, indicating when the feeling began.