they were funny

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were funny" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a group of people or things that caused amusement or laughter in the past. Example: "The comedians at the show last night? They were funny, and the audience couldn't stop laughing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"She thought they were funny.

The New Yorker

Prosecutors did not think they were funny.

The New York Times

They were funny because they were gay.

Independent

They were funny, crazy, talented, tenacious, beery.

The New Yorker

Yes, they were funny times, he conceded.

The Guardian

The band thought they were funny.

The Guardian - Music

They were funny, smart and sassy.

The Guardian - Music

Except, of course, that they were funny.

The New York Times - Arts

Cartoonists wanted people to think they were funny," he said.

The New York Times - Arts

They were funny and tragic at the same time.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

They were funny old days, they say – rough, too.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing why something was "funny", provide specific details to enhance the impact of your statement. Instead of just saying "they were funny", explain what made them so, such as "they were funny because of their witty banter and absurd situations".

Common error

Avoid using "they were funny" as a standalone statement without context. Humor is subjective; without explaining why something was funny, your audience may not understand or appreciate it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were funny" functions as a descriptive statement. It attributes the quality of being humorous to a group of people or things in the past. Ludwig examples show it's used to describe past experiences or observations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they were funny" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe something or someone that caused amusement in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and versatile, appearing frequently in "News & Media". It's essential to provide context to explain why something was funny to ensure effective communication. Alternatives like "they were hilarious" or "they were comical" can add nuance, but the original phrase remains a straightforward and widely understood expression of humor.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were hilarious

Replaces "funny" with a stronger synonym, "hilarious", indicating a higher degree of amusement.

they were side-splitting

Similar to "hilarious" but indicates extreme laughter.

they were amusing

Substitutes "funny" with "amusing", suggesting a more gentle or subtle form of humor.

they were comical

Replaces "funny" with "comical", which can imply a more deliberate or intentional attempt to be humorous.

they were a riot

Colloquial phrase suggesting they were extremely funny or caused a lot of laughter.

they were a laugh

Uses a more colloquial expression to convey that they provided amusement.

they kept me laughing

Focuses on the continuous nature of their humor.

they cracked me up

Expresses that they made the speaker laugh a lot.

they were entertaining

Indicates that they were enjoyable or provided amusement and interest.

they were a source of amusement

More formal way to say they caused laughter or pleasure.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "they were funny" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you could say "they were "quite humorous"" or "they were "highly entertaining"". The choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

What's a more descriptive alternative to "they were funny"?

Instead of "they were funny", try specifying what made them amusing, like "they were "incredibly witty"", "they were "remarkably comical"", or "they had a "great sense of humor"".

Is it always appropriate to say "they were funny"?

While generally acceptable, consider your audience and the context. If you're discussing something sensitive, even if humor was present, ensure your description is respectful and appropriate. Sometimes, it's better to focus on other aspects.

What's the difference between saying "they were funny" and "they are funny"?

"They were funny" implies the humor occurred in the past. "They are funny" means they currently possess a sense of humor. Use the correct tense depending on whether you are describing a past event or a current characteristic.