they were having fun

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were having fun" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where a group of people is enjoying themselves or engaging in enjoyable activities. Example: "At the party, they were having fun dancing and laughing with friends."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

Well, they were having fun.

The New York Times

"They were having fun.

The New York Times - Books

They looked like they were having fun.

The New Yorker

Yes, indeed, they were having fun.

The New York Times

It seemed like they were having fun.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It was cute; they were having fun.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

They're having fun," she said, respectfully.

The New Yorker

"They're having fun playing.

The New York Times - Sports

If you're having fun, they're having fun.

The New Yorker

"Besides, they're having fun!" Fran says.

The New Yorker

They're having fun with it".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they were having fun" to convey a general sense of enjoyment and lightheartedness within a group. It is versatile and easily understood in a wide range of contexts.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on phrases like "they were having fun" without providing specifics about what made the situation enjoyable. Add details that illustrate their amusement, such as "they were having fun laughing at jokes" or "they were having fun playing games".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were having fun" functions as a clause within a sentence, typically serving as the main predicate to describe an activity or state of enjoyment. Ludwig AI confirms this common and grammatically sound usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they were having fun" is a grammatically sound and very common way to describe a group's enjoyment. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and wide applicability. While versatile, consider adding specifics to illustrate the nature of their fun and make your writing more engaging. For similar expressions, you might use alternatives such as "they were enjoying themselves" or "they were having a blast". Its neutral register makes it suitable for various contexts, particularly in news and media.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were enjoying themselves

Replaces "having fun" with a more general term for experiencing pleasure.

they were having a blast

Uses a more emphatic and informal expression for having a good time.

they were having a good time

Offers a simpler and more direct alternative to "having fun".

they were in high spirits

Focuses on the emotional state of being happy and cheerful.

they were reveling in the moment

Suggests a more intense and immersive experience of enjoyment.

they were filled with glee

Emphasizes the joy and excitement felt by the group.

they were amused and entertained

Highlights the source of their enjoyment through external stimuli.

they were finding pleasure in it

Expresses enjoyment as a result of a specific thing or activity.

they were laughing and joking

Highlights the specific behaviors associated with having fun.

they were living it up

Suggests they were celebrating and enjoying to the fullest.

FAQs

How can I describe the type of fun they were having?

To be more descriptive, specify the activity or feeling: "they were having "great fun"", "they were having "silly fun"", or "they were having "harmless fun"".

What is a more formal way to say "they were having fun"?

In more formal contexts, consider alternatives like "they were "enjoying themselves"" or "they were finding the activity pleasurable".

Is it correct to say "they was having fun"?

No, "they was having fun" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "they were having fun" because "they" is a plural pronoun and requires the plural form of the verb "to be", which is "were".

How can I emphasize the level of fun they were having?

To intensify the expression, you could say "they were having "so much fun"", "they were having "an amazing time"", or "they were "having a blast"".