they were right of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were right of" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an incomplete expression and lacks clarity without additional context. Example: "They were right of the main road, just past the gas station."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"They were right, of course".

The New York Times

They were right, of course, and Tim, who always wanted to go to such a school, agreed.

The New York Times

They were right, of course, but would Briscoe and Atkinson-Lord have backed a piece that suggested cross-dressing equated to having a mental health problem?

The Guardian

They were right of course, but then they all they could do was shown canned demos of rubber ducks, and tell us why the PS3 would be a great system when it would arrive in the spring of 2006 (for the record it was late).

TechCrunch

They were right of course, and they were wrong.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

They are right, of course.

The Economist

And they're right, of course.

The New York Times

I'm not saying they're right, of course.

The Guardian

The annoying thing about all this French bossiness is that they're right, of course.

The New Yorker

And they're right of course, Pratchett was a brilliant, intelligent writer.

The Guardian

Sometimes people think... that I lack focus and they are right of course – I'm more interested in what's happening left field than centre stage.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing the phrase with alternatives such as "they were to the right of" or "they were positioned right of" for improved grammatical accuracy.

Common error

Avoid using "they were right of" without specifying what they were right of. This often leads to ambiguity and grammatical errors. Instead, complete the phrase with a clear reference, such as "They were right of the demarcation line."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were right of" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase, indicating a position or location relative to something else. However, according to Ludwig AI, this usage often requires additional context to be grammatically sound and clear. Without this context, it sounds incomplete.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they were right of" is used to indicate a spatial relationship but requires careful consideration due to its potential for incompleteness. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is often grammatically questionable without additional context. While it appears in news and media sources, it's essential to ensure clarity by specifying what "they" are to the right of. Consider alternatives like "they were to the right of" or rephrasing the sentence for improved grammatical accuracy and precision. The phrase is rarely used, so mindful application ensures effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were right all along

Stresses that they were correct from the beginning, even if others initially disagreed.

they correctly predicted

Focuses on their ability to foresee or anticipate an event or outcome accurately.

they were correct about

Focuses on the accuracy of their statements regarding a specific subject.

they were accurate concerning

Highlights the correctness and precision of their statements about a specific topic.

their assessment was spot on

Indicates that their evaluation was entirely accurate or precise.

they had a point regarding

Highlights the validity or relevance of their argument or viewpoint.

they were justified in

Emphasizes the legitimacy or righteousness of their actions or beliefs.

they were vindicated in

Indicates that their previous actions or beliefs were proven to be correct or justified after doubt.

they were on the right track with

Suggests that they were progressing in the correct direction or had a sound approach.

they were astute in their assessment of

Emphasizes the sharpness and intelligence of their judgment or evaluation.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "they were right of" in a sentence?

The phrase "they were right of" is often incomplete and requires additional context to be grammatically correct. It's better to specify what they were to the right of, such as in the sentence, "They were right of the main building."

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

You can use alternatives like "they were to the right of", "they were positioned right of", or rephrase the sentence for clarity. For example, instead of "They were right of the barrier", try "They were standing to the right of the barrier".

Is "they were right of" grammatically correct?

The phrase "they were right of" is not always grammatically correct on its own. It typically needs additional context to specify what "right of" refers to. Without that context, it sounds incomplete and potentially incorrect.

How can I improve the clarity of sentences using "they were right of"?

To improve clarity, ensure you specify what "they" were to the right of. For example, instead of saying just "They were right of", specify "They were right of the stage" or "They were right of the center line".