they were immediately

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were immediately" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action or reaction that occurs without delay following a specific event or situation. Example: "They were immediately informed of the changes to the schedule."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

"They were immediately astounding.

The New Yorker

They were immediately separated.

The Guardian

They were immediately outed".

The Guardian

They were immediately popular.

The Guardian - Books

So they were immediately ruled out.

The New York Times

"They were immediately open to the idea.

The Guardian - Sport

It was immediately recognized, they were immediately admonished.

The New York Times

They were immediately hailed for their sense of sportsmanship.

The New York Times - Sports

"They were immediately transported to a commercial freezer and stored for seven days at zero degrees.

The New York Times

They were immediately placed under armed guard in a locked room.

The New York Times

When the plane landed, they were immediately brought back to New Jersey, the police director said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To maintain variety in your writing and avoid sounding repetitive, consider using synonyms such as "they were promptly", "they were quickly" or "they were instantly", especially when describing a series of events that follow each other.

Common error

Avoid using "they were immediately" multiple times in a short passage. This can make your writing sound repetitive and less impactful. Instead, vary your language by using synonyms or rephrasing the sentences to convey the same meaning with different words.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were immediately" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, indicating the timing of an action or state. As Ludwig AI confirms, it suggests that something happened without delay. Examples demonstrate this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

48%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they were immediately" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate that an action occurred without delay. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across various contexts. Predominantly found in News & Media and Science sources, the phrase serves to emphasize the promptness of a response or event. While versatile, it's best to avoid overuse in close proximity to prevent repetition. Consider alternatives such as "they were promptly" or "they were quickly" for variety. Its neutral register makes it suitable for a wide range of writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were promptly

Replaces "immediately" with "promptly", emphasizing quickness and efficiency.

they were quickly

Substitutes "immediately" with "quickly", highlighting the speed of the action.

they were instantly

Uses "instantly" instead of "immediately", suggesting an action occurring without any delay.

they were directly

Employs "directly" in place of "immediately", focusing on the absence of intermediaries or delays.

they were straightaway

Replaces "immediately" with "straightaway", indicating an action happening right away.

they were forthwith

Uses the more formal "forthwith" instead of "immediately", suggesting immediate compliance or action.

they acted immediately

Reformulates the sentence to emphasize the action being immediate rather than the state.

immediate action was taken

Shifts the focus to the action itself, emphasizing its immediate nature while changing the sentence structure.

action was taken without delay

Explains the immediacy by stating the absence of delay, altering the sentence structure.

they didn't hesitate to

Expresses the lack of delay by emphasizing the absence of hesitation before acting.

FAQs

What does "they were immediately" mean?

The phrase "they were immediately" signifies that an action or reaction occurred without any delay following a specific event or circumstance. It emphasizes the promptness of the response.

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

You can use "they were immediately" to describe a rapid action following an event. For example, "When the alarm sounded, "they were immediately" evacuated from the building."

What are some alternatives to "they were immediately"?

Alternatives include phrases like "they were promptly", "they were quickly", or "they were instantly", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it formal to use "they were immediately"?

"They were immediately" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in very formal writing, you might consider alternatives like "they were forthwith" or "action was taken without delay" for a more elevated tone.