they were worth

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'they were worth' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to imply that something has an appreciable value or cost. For example, "The antique vases were worth a lot of money."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But they were worth it".

Independent

They were worth £40m.

The Guardian

They were worth $50.

The New Yorker

They were worth it.

The New York Times - Travel

They were worth waiting for.

The New York Times

They were worth every penny.

The New York Times - Travel

I thought they were worth revisiting.

The New York Times

By Friday they were worth $18.

Independent

And they were worth waiting for.

The New York Times - Arts

And yes, they were worth it.

The New York Times - Style

I thought they were worth writing about.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "they were worth", ensure that the context clearly establishes what "they" refers to and what standard of value is being applied. This helps avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "they were worth" without clearly establishing a reference point. For example, instead of saying "They were worth it", specify, "The sacrifices were worth the outcome" to provide clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were worth" functions as a declarative statement to express the value, merit, or justification of something in the past. It conveys that the subject's benefits, qualities, or returns compensated for the costs or efforts associated with it, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they were worth" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate the value, merit, or justification of something in retrospect. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is suitable for a neutral register and commonly found in News & Media. When employing "they were worth", ensure clarity by specifying the referent and the standard of value. Alternatives like ""they had value"" or ""they possessed merit"" can add nuance, but the core message remains consistent: the subject's benefits compensated for associated costs or efforts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they had value

This alternative focuses on the intrinsic value of the subject, instead of a comparison to an external measure.

they possessed merit

Replaces "worth" with "merit", emphasizing the quality of deservingness or excellence.

their value was

Inverts the structure to highlight the value itself, rather than the subject.

they were deserving of

Shifts the focus to the deserving nature of the subject, implying worth through entitlement.

they justified the cost

Emphasizes that the expense was reasonable for what was received

their price was justified

Similar to the previous one, highlighting that the price paid was according to their value.

they repaid the investment

Indicates that something was gained as a result of the initial expense, which validates the "worth".

it was a worthwhile endeavor

Shifts the perspective to the endeavor itself being valuable, not just something having value.

they proved beneficial

Highlights the positive outcome, suggesting the investment or effort paid off.

they paid off

Focuses on the return or reward received, implying the initial effort or investment was "worth" it.

FAQs

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

Use "they were worth" to indicate that something had a specific value or that the benefits outweighed the costs. For instance, "The antique vases "they were worth" a lot of money because of their rarity".

What phrases can I use instead of "they were worth"?

Alternatives include "they had value", "they possessed merit", or "their value was" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "they are worth" instead of "they were worth"?

Yes, both are grammatically correct, but "they were worth" refers to a past value, while "they are worth" refers to a present value. The correct tense depends on the context.

What is the difference between "they were worth it" and "they were valuable"?

"They were valuable" implies inherent worth or importance. "They were worth it" suggests that the benefits or outcomes justified the effort, cost, or sacrifice involved.