they were initially

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were initially" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation or condition that existed at the beginning of a process or event. Example: "They were initially hesitant to join the project, but later became enthusiastic participants."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

They were initially skeptical.

The New Yorker

They were initially sold at 330p.

Independent

They were initially used for percussion.

Stanford University

On arrival, they were initially ostracised.

The Guardian

Yet they were, initially, the worst treated.

The Guardian

They were initially, more or less, in our image.

The New York Times - Science

Critics say they were initially alarmed by the building's size.

The New York Times

Even in Zimbabwe they were initially considered outsiders.

The Guardian - Music

They were initially going to rename the channel INdTV.

The New York Times

They were initially supposed to complete a budget in April.

The New York Times

They were initially used as sealants, but have subsequently been developed as surface support liners.

Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they were initially" to clearly indicate the original state or condition of something before subsequent changes or developments occurred. This helps in establishing a clear timeline for your narrative.

Common error

Avoid using "they were initially" when you mean to describe the final outcome or result. "Initially" refers to the beginning, not the end. For example, don't say "They were initially successful" if you mean they became successful over time; instead, use "they eventually became successful".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were initially" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying the verb. It specifies when something was in a certain state, indicating the beginning or original condition. Examples from Ludwig show this usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

37%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they were initially" is a very common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe the starting point or original state of a subject. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples across various contexts, including news, science, and academia. When using this phrase, ensure you are accurately conveying the initial condition and not confusing it with the final outcome. Consider alternatives like "at first they were" or "originally they were" for nuanced expression. The phrase maintains a neutral register, making it suitable for diverse writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at first they were

Replaces "initially" with "at first", indicating a temporal sequence.

originally they were

Substitutes "initially" with "originally", emphasizing the beginning state.

in the beginning they were

Uses a more descriptive phrase, "in the beginning", to replace "initially".

to begin with, they were

Adds an introductory phrase "to begin with" for emphasis.

initially, they had been

Changes the verb tense to "had been", adding a past perfect aspect.

they started out as

Uses the phrasal verb "started out as" to convey the initial condition.

they commenced as

Replaces "were initially" with the more formal "commenced as".

they were first

Emphasizes the order of events using "first" instead of "initially".

at the outset they were

Uses "at the outset" to highlight the starting point.

their initial state was

Restructures the sentence to focus on "their initial state".

FAQs

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

Use "they were initially" to describe the original state or condition of something before it changed. For instance, "they were initially skeptical" suggests a change from doubt to belief or acceptance.

What are some alternatives to "they were initially"?

Alternatives include "at first they were", "originally they were", or "in the beginning they were", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "they was initially" instead of "they were initially"?

No, "they was initially" is grammatically incorrect. The correct plural form of "to be" in the past tense is "were". Therefore, you should always use "they were initially".

What is the difference between "they were initially" and "they were ultimately"?

"They were initially" indicates the starting point, while "they were ultimately" indicates the final result or outcome. These phrases describe opposite ends of a process or change.