they were joyful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were joyful" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a state of happiness or elation experienced by a group of people. Example: "After hearing the good news, they were joyful and celebrated together."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Bergdahl's parents subsequently issued a public statement, saying they were "joyful and relieved" at their son's return.

The Guardian

She needed them, and they were joyful to have her.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"They are joyful sounds.

The New Yorker

"They go through so much hard times and struggles but yet, they're joyful and happy," Kabre said.

The Guardian

But while for three of our children, they're joyful stories worthy of constant retelling, for our youngest daughter, those are complex stories of loss and eventual gain; of leaving a family she did not want to leave and gaining a family she did not much want at the time.

The New York Times

A lot of heavy people pretend they're joyful and happy.

Huffington Post

"In all the towns they passed through, the people were joyful".

The New York Times

They can be joyful, and they can be a pleasure to watch, but there is usually a sense of seriousness to them.

The New Yorker

Other surprises were joyful.

The New York Times

The fans were joyful and supportive of all teams.

The New York Times - Sports

Only 23percentt of tweets were joyful, 19percentt were admiring, and 8percentt expressed surprise.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they were joyful" to describe a collective feeling of happiness or elation, particularly in response to a positive event or news. This phrase works well in both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

While "they were joyful" is appropriate for conveying happiness, avoid overusing it or using it in contexts where the level of happiness doesn't match the intensity of the word "joyful". Consider synonyms like "happy" or "pleased" for less intense situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were joyful" functions as a descriptive statement, attributing a state of happiness to a group of subjects. It's a straightforward way to express that a collective experienced a feeling of joy, as shown in the examples Ludwig provides.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they were joyful" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English, used to describe a state of happiness experienced by a group of people. Ludwig shows it is commonly found in news and media contexts. While there are synonyms like "happy", "ecstatic", and "delighted", "they were joyful" carries a slightly more elevated tone. When using this phrase, it is essential to ensure that the context aligns with the intensity of the emotion being expressed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were happy

Provides a simpler, more common synonym.

they were ecstatic

Replaces "joyful" with a stronger expression of happiness.

they were delighted

Uses a more formal synonym for "joyful".

they were thrilled

Offers a more enthusiastic alternative to "joyful".

they were elated

Presents a more elevated and formal synonym.

they were jubilant

Conveys a sense of triumphant joy.

they were in high spirits

Describes a general state of cheerfulness.

they were full of glee

Suggests a playful and lighthearted joy.

they were walking on air

Uses an idiom to express extreme happiness.

they were over the moon

Another idiomatic expression for great joy.

FAQs

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

You can use "they were joyful" to describe a group's positive emotional response to an event. For example, "After the victory, "they were joyful" and celebrated late into the night".

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

You can use alternatives like "they were happy", "they were ecstatic", or "they were delighted" depending on the context and the intensity of the emotion you want to convey.

Is "they were joyful" formal or informal?

"They were joyful" is appropriate for both formal and informal contexts. While "joyful" can be seen as slightly more elevated than "happy", it is still widely understood and accepted in everyday language.

What's the difference between "they were joyful" and "they were happy"?

While both phrases express positive emotions, "they were joyful" suggests a deeper, more profound sense of happiness than "they were happy". "Joyful" implies a stronger feeling of elation and delight.