were divorced since

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were divorced since" is not correct in standard English usage.
It is typically used incorrectly as "since" implies a specific point in time rather than a duration. Example: "They were divorced since 2010." should be "They have been divorced since 2010."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"You haven't told her what a lucky girl she is, because even if they were divorced, since she was married to him for 10 years she's entitled to his Social Security benefits," the Dybbuk said, as she materialized in the living room.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

His parents have been divorced since 2001.

The New York Times

Cecilia's parents have been divorced since she was four.

The New Yorker

The New Yorker, July 13 , 1981P. 28 Cecilia's parents have been divorced since she was four.

The New Yorker

Clint Bouchez, a 52-year-old development manager from Reigate, has been divorced since 2006.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

By William Trevor The New Yorker, July 13 , 1981P. 28 Cecilia's parents have been divorced since she was four.

The New Yorker

Her charismatic husband, from whom she has been divorced since 1979, was, in her opinion, far too charismatic when it came to women.

The New York Times

Working side by side, it was not long before Dr. Schechner, who had been divorced since 1999, felt an attraction that seemed to increase the closer they came.

The New York Times

Burrell was previously married but has been divorced since 2009.

Wikipedia

Billy and Cathy have been divorced since Kekai was 5 years old, she said.

Los Angeles Times

Her parents had been divorced since she was 12 and they did not get along very well, to say the least.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer the phrase "have been divorced since" to ensure grammatical correctness when indicating the start of a divorced state. For example, "They have been divorced since 2010" is more appropriate than "They were divorced since 2010".

Common error

Avoid using the past tense "were" with "since" when referring to a continuing state of divorce. "Since" indicates a starting point, so the present perfect "have been" is grammatically correct.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were divorced since" functions as part of a clause aiming to specify the time frame when a divorce has been in effect. It often attempts to link a past event (the divorce) to a subsequent situation. However, Ludwig AI indicates this phrase is not grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were divorced since" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI points out, the present perfect tense "have been divorced since" is the preferred construction to indicate a state of being divorced that began at a specific time and continues to be relevant. While examples of "were divorced since" can be found, particularly in news and media, it's advisable to use more grammatically sound alternatives like ""have been divorced since"" to ensure clarity and correctness in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Have been divorced since

Uses the present perfect tense to indicate a state that began in the past and continues to the present or has relevance to the present.

Divorced as of

Specifies the date or time when the divorce became effective.

Divorced from (date) onwards

Indicates the start date from which the divorce has been in effect.

Their divorce was finalized on

Focuses on the completion of the divorce process on a specific date.

They separated and later divorced in

Highlights the separation period before the divorce was finalized.

They have been separated since and subsequently divorced

Emphasizes a period of separation leading to a divorce.

The divorce took place in

Highlights the divorce event in a specific time.

Since their divorce in

Emphasizes that something has happened in a specific time after the divorce.

Following their divorce in

Indicates an event or action that occurred after a divorce.

Post-divorce

Refers to events or circumstances after a divorce is finalized.

FAQs

How should I correctly use "divorced since" in a sentence?

The grammatically correct way to use "divorced since" is with the present perfect tense: "have been divorced since". For example, "They "have been divorced since" 2010" is correct.

What's the difference between "were divorced since" and "have been divorced since"?

"Were divorced since" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. "Have been divorced since" indicates a state that began in the past and continues to the present. Use ""have been divorced since"" to ensure your sentence is grammatically sound.

What are some alternatives to "were divorced since" that I can use?

Alternatives include ""have been divorced since"", "divorced as of", or "divorced from (date) onwards". These options provide grammatically correct ways to express the timing or duration of a divorce.

Is it ever correct to use "were divorced since"?

While not standard, you might find "were divorced since" in informal contexts. However, for formal writing, it's best to use ""have been divorced since"" or rephrase the sentence to avoid the construction altogether.