was them

USAGE SUMMARY

'was them' is not a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it in informal conversations or in spoken English. For example: That was them over there.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And it was them.

The Washington Post

That was them.

The Guardian - Arts

"He was them without the hopelessness.

The New York Times - Books

Maybe it was them, maybe not.

The Washington Post

All I could think about was them".

The Guardian - Music

MI5 always denied it was them.

The Guardian

The company denied it was them.

The Guardian - Money

I didn't know it was them".

The New York Times

"The helicopter landed and confirmed it was them.

Independent

This was them sticking the knife in it".

The New York Times - Magazine

I'd do the same thing if I was them".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal writing, avoid using "was them". Opt for the grammatically correct "it was they" or rephrase the sentence for clarity and precision.

Common error

A common mistake is using the objective pronoun "them" after the verb "was". Remember to use the subjective pronoun "they" in this context. Using "them" after "was" is incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was them" functions as a copular clause, attempting to link a subject with a predicate nominative. However, it uses the objective pronoun "them" instead of the subjective pronoun "they", resulting in grammatical incorrectness. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Wiki

4%

Science

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was them" is commonly found in informal spoken English but deemed grammatically incorrect in standard written English. While frequently used in news and media, as Ludwig AI demonstrates, this doesn't validate its formal use. The core issue is the incorrect use of the objective pronoun "them" instead of the subjective pronoun "they". For formal contexts, it's best to opt for alternatives like "it "was they"" or rephrase the sentence for clarity. Despite its frequent appearance, especially in spoken language, adhering to grammatical correctness enhances the credibility and clarity of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was they

Replaces "was them" with the grammatically correct form using the nominative pronoun "they".

it had been them

Adds emphasis on the past perfect tense, indicating the action happened before another point in the past.

they were the ones

Shifts the sentence structure to emphasize the individuals involved.

that was their doing

Indicates responsibility or agency for a specific action or event.

those were the people

Replaces the pronoun with a more descriptive noun phrase.

it turned out to be them

Adds a sense of discovery or revelation to the identification.

they were responsible

Focuses on the accountability or culpability of the individuals.

they were the culprits

Emphasizes wrongdoing or fault on the part of the individuals.

they were the group

Replaces pronoun with noun indicating belonging to a group.

that was their team

Explicitly states that the individuals are a part of some team.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "was them"?

The grammatically correct way to say "was them" is "it "was they"". However, this phrasing can sound overly formal, so consider rephrasing for a more natural tone.

When is it appropriate to use "was them"?

While grammatically incorrect, "was them" might be acceptable in very informal speech or certain dialects. However, it should be avoided in formal writing and professional communication.

What can I say instead of "was them" in a formal setting?

In a formal setting, you can use phrases like "it "was they"", "they "were the ones"", or "they "were responsible" depending on the context.

Why is "was them" considered grammatically incorrect?

The word "them" is an objective pronoun, while the verb "was" requires a subjective pronoun. The correct subjective pronoun to use with "was" in this context is "they". Therefore, "it "was they"" is the grammatically correct form.