were depressed for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were depressed for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a state of feeling sad or low for a specific duration of time. Example: "They were depressed for several months after the loss of their pet."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

They were depressed for years.

The New Yorker

Office rents there were depressed for most of 1995 and 1996, reflecting nervousness about Hong Kong's future under Chinese rule.

The Economist

"The people there were depressed for a long time, but now they're doing great," he said.

Vice

Following a single dose of 15 Gy to the tumour, DNA-precursor incorporation, labelling and mitotic indices were depressed for 7 days.

British Journal of Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Treating heavy gamers who are depressed for addiction rather than depression could do more harm than good, Colder Carras adds.

Johns Hopkins University

She's been depressed for years, and her long-standing use of anti-depressant drugs doesn't make much of a dent.

Huffington Post

A number of participants reported being depressed for a long time before they were willing to accept they had depression.

BMC Psychiatry

I was depressed for four months".

The Guardian - Sport

As for gasoline prices, they had been depressed for decades.

The New York Times

Newsprint prices had been depressed for a couple of years.

The New York Times

He was depressed for long periods of time.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were depressed for", ensure the duration is clearly specified to provide context and avoid ambiguity. For example, "They "were depressed for" several months after the event".

Common error

Avoid using vague timeframes with "were depressed for". Instead of saying "They "were depressed for" a while", specify a more precise duration like "They "were depressed for" a few weeks" to provide clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were depressed for" functions as a verb phrase indicating a state of emotional distress that lasted for a specified duration. Ludwig shows it's used to describe the duration of a depressive state.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "were depressed for" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a period of sadness or clinical depression. As Ludwig confirms, this phrase is frequently used in news articles, scientific publications, and academic writings. Its purpose is to provide context by specifying the duration of the depressive state. While it maintains a neutral to formal register, it can be used in different types of texts. For clarity, specify the duration. If a less intense or more informal tone is needed, consider alternatives like "felt down for" or "were feeling low for".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

endured a depressive episode for

Uses clinical language to describe a distinct period of depression.

experienced depression for

Replaces "were depressed" with a more formal synonym, maintaining the duration aspect.

suffered from depression for

Emphasizes the negative impact of depression, highlighting the suffering involved.

had a bout of depression for

Indicates a specific, limited period of depression.

battled depression for

Suggests an ongoing struggle against depression over a period of time.

struggled with depression for

Similar to 'battled', but with a slightly less intense connotation.

felt down for

Uses a less clinical term for depression, indicating a temporary state of sadness.

were feeling low for

Similar to 'felt down', offering a more casual way to describe a depressed mood.

were in low spirits for

Describes a temporary period of unhappiness or dejection.

were saddened for

Replaces depression with general sadness.

FAQs

How can I use "were depressed for" in a sentence?

You can use "were depressed for" to indicate a period of sadness or low mood. For example, "They "were depressed for" several months after losing their job."

What's a more formal alternative to "were depressed for"?

A more formal alternative is "experienced depression for", which provides a slightly more clinical tone.

What can I say instead of "were depressed for" to sound less clinical?

To sound less clinical, you could say "felt down for" or "were feeling low for". These alternatives are less intense and more suitable for informal contexts.

Is it correct to say "was depressed for" instead of "were depressed for"?

Yes, but the verb form depends on the subject. Use "was depressed for" for singular subjects (e.g., "He "was depressed for" a week"), and "were depressed for" for plural subjects (e.g., "They "were depressed for" a month").