were already started

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "were already started" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that something has already begun. For example: "We arrived just in time to see the fireworks, which were already started."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The projects were already started.

City, Territory and Architecture

The relative risk estimate was also found to be higher when the PIDs were first prescribed during hospitalisation (RR 2.14, 95% CI 1.60 2.88) than when they were already started at home (RR 1.13, 95% CI 0.77 1.66).

European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology

The novelty of the current study is based on the fact that these therapies were introduced at the peak of the clinical phase of arthritis to more closely model the clinical scenarios where they might be administered to human patients, in contrast to previous publications where treatments were already started at the onset of arthritis.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"People were already starting to filter out.

BBC

I thought about leaving, but the introductions were already starting.

Huffington Post

"It's already started".

The New York Times - Tech

"It's already started," said Amy Fernandez, of Forest Hills, Queens.

The New York Times

But, she said, "I wanted something that was already started".

The New York Times

Actually, he's already started, and good for him".

The Guardian - Books

"George Bush, you know, he's already started the attack ads.

The New York Times

"It's already started," he said.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were already started" when you want to emphasize that an action or process had its beginning prior to a specific point in time or another event.

Common error

Avoid using "were already started" when you mean to use the active voice. For example, instead of "The team were already started the project", say "The team had already started the project".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were already started" functions as a passive construction, indicating that an action had commenced before a specific point. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness, highlighting its usability in written English to describe ongoing actions.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were already started" is grammatically correct, according to Ludwig, and serves to indicate that an action or process was initiated before a particular time. While its frequency is relatively rare, it finds appropriate use in both scientific and news contexts. When writing, ensure you intend to use the passive voice and aren't better served by the active voice (e.g., "had already started"). Ludwig's examples provide a practical understanding of how this phrase is employed in diverse scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had already begun

Focuses on the beginning action, emphasizing completion.

were previously initiated

Highlights prior initiation, suitable for formal contexts.

were in progress

Indicates ongoing status rather than the starting point.

had commenced already

Formal replacement, emphasizes the official start.

were underway

Emphasizes the progression of an activity.

were launched earlier

Emphasizes the commencement of a project or event.

had been set in motion

Implies a mechanism or system was initiated.

were activated beforehand

Focuses on the action of activation.

had been kickstarted

Informal term for initiating a project, often entrepreneurial.

were set up in advance

Emphasizes preparation and setup prior to starting.

FAQs

How can I use "were already started" in a sentence?

You can use "were already started" to indicate that actions or processes had begun prior to a specific time. For example, "The preparations "were already started" when we arrived".

What are some alternatives to "were already started"?

Alternatives include phrases like "had already begun", "were in progress", or "were previously initiated", depending on the desired nuance.

Is it more appropriate to use "had already started" or "were already started"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "had already started" typically implies an action completed before another action in the past, while ""were already started"" focuses on the state of being initiated.

What's the difference between "were already started" and "were already beginning"?

"Were already started" implies the process had begun and potentially progressed, whereas "were already beginning" suggests the initial stages of a process.