were advice

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were advice" is not correct in English and does not convey a clear meaning.
It seems to be an incorrect combination of words, as "were" is a past tense verb and "advice" is a noun, making it grammatically incompatible. Example: "The suggestions were advice that I found helpful."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The eco-driving constituents that were rated as most useful were advice on gas pedal pressure, speed guidance, feedback on manoeuvres, fuel consumption information and simple statistics.

Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies

Subjects of particular interest were advice on ash cleanup operations for city authorities; impacts on building facilities; impacts on heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems and emergency power generators; and impacts on computers and electronics.

Journal of Applied Volcanology

Two other factors were "advice from others" and "educational experience".

BMC Medical Education

These were: advice grounded in experiential knowledge, social support, social comparison, and helper therapy (shown in Figure 1).

BMC Psychiatry

One hundred (70%) of the respondents reported that this was within the scope of their ability, while the majority (n = 71) stated that the methods used were advice and counselling, but also referral to specialists, use of specific medications and suggestions regarding appropriate reading material.

BMC Family Practice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Here's advice.

The New York Times

It was advice he ignored.

The New York Times

It's advice worth taking.

The New York Times

It's advice frequently taken.

The Guardian

It's advice I have often taken.

Independent

It is advice based on bitter experience.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to advice, ensure grammatical agreement by using singular verbs like "was" or rephrasing to use verbs like "offered" or "provided."

Common error

Avoid using plural verbs such as "were" with the singular noun "advice". Reframe your sentence to ensure grammatical correctness, such as "the recommendations were..." or "it was advice from...".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were advice" is typically intended to describe a quality or characteristic of something, but its grammatical incorrectness undermines its effectiveness. As Ludwig AI indicates, the combination of the plural verb "were" with the singular noun "advice" creates a grammatical error.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

20%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were advice" is grammatically incorrect because it uses a plural verb with a singular noun. Ludwig AI confirms this issue. While it appears in some contexts, primarily in science and news media, it is best to avoid this phrase in formal writing. Instead, use "was advice" or rephrase the sentence to ensure grammatical accuracy, such as "they offered "advice"". Always aim for clarity and correctness in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was advice

Change in verb tense to singular, aligning with 'advice'.

constituted advice

Replaces 'were' with a more formal verb 'constituted'.

amounted to advice

Replaces 'were' with a verb phrase 'amounted to'.

consisted of advice

Uses 'consisted of' to indicate the components of something.

they offered advice

Changes the structure to use 'offer' with a subject.

represented advice

Uses 'represented' to describe the nature of something.

provided counsel

Substitutes 'advice' with the synonym 'counsel'.

included recommendations

Replaces both words with synonyms for 'were' and 'advice'.

suggestions included

Changes the word order and uses 'suggestions' instead of 'advice'.

guidance consisted of

Uses 'guidance' instead of 'advice' and restructures the sentence.

FAQs

How can I correct the phrase "were advice" in a sentence?

You can correct it by using the singular verb "was" (e.g., "it was advice") or by rephrasing the sentence to use a plural noun like "recommendations" (e.g., "the recommendations were").

What is a grammatically correct alternative to "were advice"?

A grammatically correct alternative is to use the phrase "was advice" or to rephrase using a different verb, such as "they offered "advice"".

Is "were advice" ever considered acceptable in formal writing?

No, "were advice" is generally not considered acceptable in formal writing due to the grammatical disagreement between the plural verb "were" and the singular noun "advice".

What's the difference between "was advice" and "were suggestions"?

"Was advice" uses a singular verb with a singular noun, while "were suggestions" uses a plural verb with a plural noun. The choice depends on whether you are referring to a single piece of advice or multiple suggestions. For example, the best thing I received "was advice", the best things I received "were suggestions".