Sentence examples for they were trying from inspiring English sources

The phrase "they were trying" is correct and can be used in written English
It is usually used to describe an ongoing or continuous action in the past. It can also convey a sense of effort or determination. Example: "They were trying to solve the puzzle, but it was proving to be quite difficult." In this sentence, "they were trying" shows that the action of solving the puzzle was ongoing and they were making an effort to do so.