they were saying

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were saying" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to something that a group of people expressed or communicated in the past. Example: "During the meeting, they were saying that the project deadline needed to be extended."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Elsewhere, they were saying.

The New Yorker

"It's chirping," they were saying.

The New York Times - Magazine

They were saying hello.

The New York Times

"They were saying, 'Help!

The New York Times

"They were saying, 'Who knows Ahmadinejad?

The New Yorker

" 'I love the work,' they were saying.

The New York Times - Arts

"For an eiii-dee," they were saying.

The New Yorker

Holy cow, they were saying to themselves.

The New York Times

'Where is el Ratón?' they were saying.

The New York Times

They were saying stop the boat.

Independent

They were saying, you're homeless.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they were saying" when reporting speech or opinions from a group without specifying individuals. This works best when the collective voice is important.

Common error

Avoid using "they were saying" when only a few individuals within the group made the statement. Instead, specify who said what to ensure accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were saying" functions as a form of reported speech or indirect discourse. It indicates that a group of people expressed something, without necessarily specifying each individual's contribution. Ludwig examples show its usage across various reporting contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

96%

Science

2%

Wiki

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they were saying" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression for reporting speech or opinions from a group. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely accepted and versatile. The phrase appears most commonly in news and media, serving to convey information without always pinpointing individual speakers. While the phrase is suitable for many contexts, it is important to ensure that its use accurately reflects the group's collective sentiment and not just the opinions of a few. To avoid misattribution, alternatives like "they stated" or specifying speakers can provide greater clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they mentioned

Neutral alternative, indicating a casual or brief reference.

they remarked

Indicates a brief observation or comment.

they noted

Similar to mentioned, but slightly more formal and emphasizes importance.

they stated

Formal alternative, emphasizing a clear and direct announcement.

they observed

Focuses on what was noticed and commented upon.

they reported

Implies relaying information, often from an official source.

they indicated

Suggests a more subtle or indirect way of conveying information.

they expressed

Highlights the communication of feelings or opinions.

they claimed

Highlights a statement of fact that may be disputed or require verification.

their statement was

More formal and emphasizes a complete declaration.

FAQs

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

Use "they were saying" to report what a group of people expressed or communicated. For example: "During the meeting, "they were saying" that the project deadline needed to be extended."

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

You can use alternatives like "they mentioned", "they stated", or "they remarked" depending on the context.

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

No, "they was saying" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is ""they were saying"" because "they" is a plural pronoun, requiring the plural verb form "were."

What is the difference between "they were saying" and "they said"?

"They said" is a direct statement of a past action. "They were saying" implies a continuous or repeated action in the past, or a less formal way of reporting speech.