they were marvellous

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were marvellous" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express admiration or appreciation for a group of people or things that have performed exceptionally well or are impressive in some way. Example: "The performers at the concert were marvellous, captivating the audience with their talent and energy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

They were marvellous - except for one bit, which made my blood boil.

The Guardian - Books

Hirst was doing his dot paintings and Rosenthal thought they were marvellous.

The Guardian - Arts

Asked about U.S. Zoos, Mr. F. said they were marvellous, but considers the San Diego Zoo the best.

The New Yorker

"I had a few ideas for my part, and told them to the director Barry, who said he thought they were marvellous - they're such fucking liars, bastards.

The Guardian

They were marvellous, patching me up and giving me food - until the Japanese authorities declared that anyone harbouring an escaped English prisoner would have their village destroyed.

The Guardian

When they replied that they were "marvellous," Bonaparte responded that it was just as well, since he would have them shot if they continued "fostering mutinies and preaching revolt".

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

They are marvellous pictures.

The Guardian - Opinion

They're marvellous!" Along with remarks about George Formby, it gets a little wearing.

Independent

Yes, Theresa says, they are marvellous; furthermore, they will change to different, beautiful colors as Daisy's life changes.

The New Yorker

But Hunt said: I've had an excellent tour of the facilities here and they are marvellous, but there doesn't seem to be any room left.

The Guardian

And sometimes they are marvellous books which aren't admired as much as they should be because of an age-old tendency to disparage women and anything perceived as feminine (emotional, subjective, weak, lacking rigour).

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they were marvellous" to express strong approval or admiration for a group's actions or qualities. This phrase is suitable for conveying genuine enthusiasm.

Common error

Avoid using "they were marvellous" in highly formal or academic writing. While grammatically correct, it can sound slightly informal. Opt for more neutral or sophisticated alternatives such as "they were excellent" or "they were impressive" in professional settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were marvellous" functions as a declarative statement expressing strong approval or admiration. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It is used to convey that a group of people or things performed exceptionally well or possess impressive qualities, as shown in the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they were marvellous" is a grammatically correct and usable expression for conveying strong admiration or approval. While considered slightly informal, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is suitable for various contexts, particularly in news and media. The phrase functions as a declarative statement to express positive evaluation. For more formal settings, consider alternatives like "they were excellent" or "they were outstanding". The phrase is most frequently found in news and media sources, with less common usage in formal or academic writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were wonderful

Replaces "marvellous" with "wonderful", maintaining a similar level of positive sentiment.

they were excellent

Substitutes "marvellous" with "excellent", indicating a high degree of quality or performance.

they were outstanding

Replaces "marvellous" with "outstanding", emphasizing exceptional qualities.

they were superb

Uses "superb" instead of "marvellous", suggesting a very high standard.

they were remarkable

Replaces "marvellous" with "remarkable", highlighting their noteworthy nature.

they were magnificent

Substitutes "marvellous" with "magnificent", indicating grandeur and impressiveness.

they were astonishing

Replaces "marvellous" with "astonishing", emphasizing the surprise and wonder they evoke.

they were impressive

Uses "impressive" instead of "marvellous", highlighting their ability to inspire admiration.

their performance was marvellous

Restructures the sentence to emphasize the performance, while retaining "marvellous".

they performed marvelously

Changes the sentence structure to use the adverb "marvelously", indicating how they performed.

FAQs

What does "they were marvellous" mean?

The phrase "they were marvellous" expresses strong admiration or approval for a group of people or things, suggesting they were exceptionally good or impressive.

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

You can use alternatives like "they were wonderful", "they were excellent", or "they were outstanding" depending on the context.

Is "they were marvellous" formal or informal?

"They were marvellous" is generally considered to be neutral to slightly informal. While acceptable in many contexts, more formal alternatives might be preferable in academic or business settings.

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

You can use "they were marvellous" to describe a group that performed well or possessed admirable qualities. For example, "The actors in the play were marvellous, delivering captivating performances".