were against

USAGE SUMMARY

"were against" is a perfectly grammatical and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to indicate opposition or resistance, as in "Many of the townspeople were against the new development project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Requests were "against policy".

The Guardian

They were against it.

The New York Times

Only 12% were against.

The Guardian

THE odds were against them.

The New York Times - Sports

The odds were against her.

Harvard University

They were against Castro.

The New York Times

People were against it.

The New York Times - Magazine

Seven were against Thebes.

The New Yorker

The odds were against him scoring.

Independent

Then again, circumstances were against him.

The Economist

Dynamic strikes were against targets of opportunity.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were against" to clearly indicate opposition to a specific idea, plan, or action. Ensure that the subject of "were" is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "was against" when referring to a plural subject. For example, use "they were against the proposal", not "they was against the proposal".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were against" functions as a verb phrase indicating opposition or disagreement. Ludwig AI shows this phrase is used to express that a group or entity was not in favor of something, as seen in examples like "They were against it" or "The odds were against them".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Academia

13%

Science

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were against" is a common phrase used to express opposition or disagreement. According to Ludwig AI, it functions as a verb phrase and appears frequently in News & Media. The phrase maintains a neutral register, making it suitable for various contexts. When writing, remember to ensure correct subject-verb agreement and consider alternatives like "opposed to" or "did not support" for stylistic variation. While the meaning is clear, precise subject definition ensures clarity. Ludwig AI provides various examples to guide your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

opposed to

Expresses direct opposition; more formal in tone.

in disagreement with

Highlights the lack of consensus or accord.

did not support

Focuses on the lack of endorsement or backing.

disapproved of

Emphasizes a negative judgment or evaluation.

resistant to

Indicates reluctance or active efforts to prevent something.

unfavorable to

Suggests a negative inclination or disposition.

objected to

Indicates a formal protest or opposition.

not in favor of

States a lack of positive sentiment or support.

took a stand against

Emphasizes a firm and public declaration of opposition.

were averse to

Indicates a strong dislike or disinclination.

FAQs

How do I use "were against" in a sentence?

Use "were against" to show that a group of people opposed something, as in "The residents "were against" the construction of the new highway".

What are some alternatives to "were against"?

You can use alternatives like "opposed to", "in disagreement with", or "did not support" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "was against" instead of "were against"?

No, "was against" is used for singular subjects, while "were against" is used for plural subjects. For example, "He was against the idea" versus "They "were against" the idea".

What's the difference between "were against" and "objected to"?

"Objected to" often implies a formal or explicit expression of disagreement, while "were against" is a more general expression of opposition.