were being started

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were being started" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to express an ongoing action that was in progress at some point in the past. Example: The celebrations were being started when I arrived at the party.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Simultaneously, more spectacular railroad tunnels were being started through the Alps.

Encyclopedia Britannica

While he was chief executive, the company began Lucky, a magazine about shopping, which became a success at a time when few magazines were being started.

The New York Times

Cars were being started or were already being eased out of where they were parked, close to the church wall on the narrow road.

The New Yorker

Then, half an hour later, reporter Alice McKeegan phoned to report that youths were attacking police with bricks and stones, fires were being started and a BBC van had been turned over.

The Guardian

Most new technology firms, he noted, were being started in Palo Alto garages, not within big companies; indeed, many were started by entrepreneurs who had walked out of big firms.

The Economist

Existing cellular networks carried as much computer data as voice traffic, and the new fourth generation (4G) cellular networks that were being started by the major cellular carriers could handle and download even more data to smartphones and other portable devices at greatly increased speeds.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

The pilot plant is being started up in July 2000.

Desalination

New relief efforts are being started in New York every day.

The New York Times

A similar scheme is being started in Newham in January.

The Guardian

Mines have closed and fewer new projects are being started.

The New York Times

Investigative nonprofits are being started all the time.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were being started" to describe actions or processes that were in the initial stages of development at a specific time in the past.

Common error

Avoid using "were being started" to describe completed actions. This phrase is for actions that were in progress. Instead, use "were started" for completed actions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were being started" functions as a passive construction in the past continuous tense. It indicates that an action was in progress in the past, with the subject receiving the action. Ludwig AI confirms that this construction is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were being started" is a grammatically sound construction used to describe an ongoing action of beginning or initiating in the past. Ludwig AI validates its correctness. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts, as well as in scientific and encyclopedic sources. When using this phrase, ensure that it accurately reflects an action in progress and not a completed event. Alternatives such as "were commencing" or "were getting underway" may provide suitable substitutions depending on the desired nuance. Avoid using "were being started" for singular subjects (use "was being started" instead) or to describe completed actions (use "had been started" or "were started").

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were commencing

Focuses on the act of beginning, implying a formal start.

were getting underway

Implies progress and momentum in the early stages.

were initiating

Highlights the act of taking the first step to begin something.

were in the process of beginning

Emphasizes the ongoing nature of starting something.

were getting initiated

Highlights the act of formally starting something.

were taking off

Suggests a more rapid and successful beginning.

were being inaugurated

Suggests a formal introduction or establishment.

were sprouting up

Conveys a sense of rapid or spontaneous emergence.

were getting kicked off

Indicates an informal or energetic beginning.

were in their infancy

Emphasizes the early, undeveloped stage of something.

FAQs

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

Use "were being started" to describe something that was in the process of beginning in the past. For example, "New projects "were being started" despite the economic downturn".

What are some alternatives to "were being started"?

Alternatives include phrases like "were commencing", "were getting underway", or "were initiating", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "was being started" instead of "were being started"?

"Was being started" is used for singular subjects, while "were being started" is used for plural subjects. For example, "A new project "was being started"" (singular) vs. "New projects "were being started"" (plural).

What's the difference between "were being started" and "had been started"?

"Were being started" describes an ongoing action in the past, while "had been started" describes an action completed before another point in the past. Example: "The engines "were being started" when the alarm went off" vs. "The engines "had been started" before the passengers boarded".