they were yes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were yes" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be used in a context where someone is affirming a previous statement or question, but it lacks clarity and coherence. Example: "When asked if they agreed with the proposal, they were yes, but it was unclear what that meant."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

A recent visitor there said he had seen many people with cellphones, including three teenagers huddled over one phone as they were, yes, texting.

The New York Times

They were, yes, smarter and sharper than I was (as indicated by the tests on which they were always creaming me), but I was . . .

The New Yorker

They were, yes, smarter and sharper than I was…but I was . . .

Vice

While he was trying to get on with the cooking she kept bombarding him with repetitive questions that nobody really needed to know the answer to, like, "Is it cooking like a normal burger?" and "From a chef's point of view, is there anything different about this burger?" (In case you do need to know the answers, they were "yes" and "no"). .

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

"Yes they are, yes they are.

Huffington Post

"They are, yes.

The New York Times - Magazine

"I think they are, yes".

The Guardian

"At this time they are, yes, extraordinary monuments, but not very functional in terms of security".

The New York Times

"I think they're, yes, they're thinking about themselves," said Rollins.

Huffington Post

If caregivers' answer were yes, they were categorized as "FCHVs' service user".

BMC Health Services Research

They must be yes or no questions.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "they were yes" in formal writing. Instead, opt for clearer and grammatically correct alternatives such as "they agreed" or "their answer was yes".

Common error

The phrase "they were yes" doesn't follow standard English sentence structure. Ensure that verbs agree with their subjects and that sentences have a clear and logical flow. Replace with a complete sentence such as "They agreed" or "They answered affirmatively."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were yes" functions as a statement of affirmation, though it's grammatically unconventional. Ludwig AI indicates it is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English. Examples show it often appears in reported speech or as part of a direct answer.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they were yes" is grammatically questionable and not considered standard English. Although it appears in some sources, mostly news and media, its usage is rare and often within direct quotations. Ludwig AI confirms this by pointing out that it is not correct. It's best to use clearer, grammatically correct alternatives such as "they agreed" or "their answer was yes" for clarity and formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they said yes

Replaces the phrase with a direct and clear statement of affirmative response.

they agreed

Substitutes the ambiguous phrase with a straightforward indication of agreement.

their answer was yes

Provides a more formal and grammatically correct way to express affirmation.

they confirmed it

Replaces a vague affirmation with a clear statement of confirmation.

yes, they did

Offers a clearer and grammatically sound way to affirm a previous action.

they indicated agreement

Provides a more formal way to convey agreement without using "yes".

they assented

Offers a more formal synonym for 'agreed'.

they responded affirmatively

A formal and unambiguous way of expressing an affirmative response.

they concurred

Similar to "agreed" but often implies a more thoughtful consideration.

that is correct

Shifts the focus to confirming the correctness of a statement.

FAQs

How can I use "they were yes" correctly in a sentence?

While grammatically questionable, the phrase "they were yes" might appear in direct speech or informal contexts. In formal writing, it's best to use alternatives like "they agreed" or "their answer was yes".

What's the difference between "they were yes" and "they said yes"?

"They said yes" is a grammatically correct and clear statement indicating an affirmative response. "They were yes" is grammatically awkward and should be avoided in formal writing. Use "they said yes" for clarity.

Is "they were yes" considered grammatically correct?

No, "they were yes" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's advisable to use more conventional phrases like "they agreed" or "they responded positively".

What are some alternatives to using "they were yes" in my writing?

Instead of "they were yes", consider using clearer and grammatically sound alternatives such as "their response was affirmative", "they concurred", or simply "they agreed".