they were outstanding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were outstanding" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone or something that performed exceptionally well or exceeded expectations. Example: "The students' presentations were outstanding, showcasing their hard work and creativity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

General Conversation

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They were outstanding professionals".

The New York Times - Sports

They were outstanding throughout.

The Guardian - Sport

Today they were outstanding.

The Guardian - Sport

On the final day they were outstanding.

The Guardian - Sport

Visually, they were outstanding, despite plots and acting that can now appear grotesque.

The Economist

There was complete agreement that they were outstanding books in terms of originality and readability".

The Guardian - Books

"Right the way through the team they were outstanding and with a lot of young players.

The Guardian - Sport

"I would like to thank the emergency services for their swift and effective response - they were outstanding".

Independent

"We want to help them become top players and I thought they were outstanding on their European debuts.

The Guardian - Sport

They had a very tough job all evening against top-quality players and they were outstanding for us.

The Guardian - Sport

I think Ireland have a very good side: they did extremely well in the autumn and they were outstanding against England, bouncing back impressively after losing to France.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they were outstanding" to positively reinforce exceptional performance or quality, especially when providing feedback or commendation.

Common error

Avoid using "they were outstanding" too frequently in casual conversation; opt for more relaxed alternatives like "they were great" or "they nailed it" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were outstanding" functions as a subjective assessment, attributing a high level of quality or performance to a group. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is correct and usable in written English to describe something that performed exceptionally well.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Sport

35%

General Conversation

30%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they were outstanding" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to convey strong approval or admiration. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in various contexts. It is most commonly found in news, sports, and general conversational settings. When aiming for variety, alternatives such as "they excelled" or "they were superb" offer similar sentiments. While versatile, it's advisable to moderate its use in overly casual contexts to preserve a natural tone. The high source quality and consistent application make this phrase a reliable choice for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were superb

Uses a direct synonym for "outstanding" to convey high quality.

they were remarkable

Highlights the unusual or noteworthy nature of their performance.

they excelled

Focuses specifically on the act of performing exceptionally well.

they were exemplary

Focuses on their performance as a model of excellence.

they shone

Emphasizes their brilliance or remarkable performance.

they impressed greatly

Highlights the impact their performance had on observers.

they performed admirably

Emphasizes the praiseworthy nature of their actions.

they were first-rate

Uses a more informal term to indicate top quality.

they were top-notch

Similar to "first-rate" but slightly more colloquial.

they exceeded expectations

Indicates that their performance surpassed what was anticipated.

FAQs

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

Use "they were outstanding" to express that someone or something performed exceptionally well. For example, "The team's efforts were outstanding throughout the entire project."

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

You can use alternatives like "they excelled", "they were superb", or "they were remarkable" depending on the context.

Is "they was outstanding" grammatically correct?

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

What is the difference between "they were good" and "they were outstanding"?

"They were good" indicates a satisfactory or acceptable level of performance, while "they were outstanding" suggests that the performance was exceptional and exceeded expectations. The latter expresses a higher degree of admiration.