were being sold

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were being sold" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to show that something was actively being sold or marketed in the past. Example: During the holiday season, hundreds of Christmas trees were being sold at the market.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Camels were being sold to butchers.

The New York Times - Arts

Tickets were being sold for $225.

The Washington Post

The audience were being sold degraded goods.

The Guardian - Books

And none of the pieces were being sold at auction.

The New York Times - Arts

The books were being sold for $1,500 each.

Independent

Yet fewer tickets were being sold at higher prices.

The New York Times

Still others were being sold at non-competitive prices.

The Guardian - Tech

Pins with pictures of Dodger players were being sold.

The New Yorker

The bonds were being sold by Jay Cooke, the "most powerful banker" of his era.

Cornell University

Deputy Inspector Tasso said he believed the gates were being sold for scrap metal.

The New York Times

"Leeds was besieged by buy-to-let speculators and flats were being sold off-plan".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "were being sold" to indicate an ongoing process of selling in the past, implying that the selling activity was happening over a period of time. For instance: "Tickets for the concert were being sold rapidly."

Common error

Avoid using "were being sold" when you simply mean something was sold at a specific point in time. Use "were sold" instead. For example, say "The tickets were sold yesterday" instead of "The tickets were being sold yesterday" if the selling occurred entirely on that day.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were being sold" functions as a passive progressive verb phrase, indicating an action (selling) that was ongoing in the past. As Ludwig AI points out, this usage highlights the active process of selling over a period of time, rather than a single, completed transaction. Ludwig provides many examples demonstrating this extended timeframe.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were being sold" is a versatile phrase used to describe an ongoing process of selling in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts. Its function is to describe a past situation where items or services were actively being offered for purchase, often implying a continuous action over time. While neutral in register, it appears most frequently in news and media sources, with strong support from authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian. When using this phrase, remember to consider the ongoing nature of the selling process and avoid using it for completed sales transactions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were on sale

Focuses on the availability of items at a reduced price or promotional event.

were up for sale

Highlights the availability of something to be bought, indicating it's currently being offered.

were being marketed

Emphasizes the promotional activities around selling something, changing the focus from the transaction to the promotion.

were available for purchase

Formally states the accessibility of products or services to potential buyers.

were being traded

Indicates an exchange or swap is occurring, rather than direct monetary sale.

were in distribution

Emphasizes the process of getting items to various outlets for sale.

were being peddled

Implies a more aggressive or informal method of selling, often door-to-door or on the street.

were being vended

Highlights that items are being offered through a vending machine or similar automated process.

were under offer

Highlights that specific goods or services are at discount.

were subject to sales

Highlights that specific goods or services are subject to certain sales.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "were being sold" to emphasize speed?

To emphasize the speed of sales, you could use phrases like "were flying off the shelves" or "were selling like hotcakes".

What's a more formal alternative to "were being sold"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "were available for purchase" or "were being offered for sale".

When should I use "were sold" instead of "were being sold"?

Use "were sold" when the selling action is completed. Use "were being sold" to describe an action in progress over a period of time in the past.

What does "were being sold" imply about the selling process?

It implies that the items were actively in the process of being sold, often over an extended period, rather than a one-time transaction.