were doing

USAGE SUMMARY

"were doing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that was happening in the past. For example, "We were doing our best to get the job done."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

They were doing well".

The New York Times

"They were doing studies.

The New York Times - Science

They were doing both.

The New Yorker

People were doing that.

The New York Times

"They were doing construction.

The New York Times

We were doing well.

Columbia University

They were doing it.

University of California, Berkeley

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

Reusability tests were done.

Carbohydrate Polymers

Radiological sweeps were done.

The New York Times

Factorial analyses were done.

Psicologia: Reflexão e Crítica

No repetitions were done.

Environmental Sciences Europe

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were doing" to describe actions that were in progress at a specific time in the past. For instance, "They were doing research when the power went out" clearly indicates an ongoing activity interrupted by an event.

Common error

Avoid shifting tenses mid-sentence when using "were doing". For example, instead of saying "They were doing the experiment, and then they stop", maintain consistency by saying "They were doing the experiment, and then they stopped".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were doing" functions as a past progressive verb phrase, indicating an action or activity that was in progress at a specific time in the past. This is supported by Ludwig AI and the examples provided, showcasing its use in describing ongoing actions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Academia

25%

Science

27%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were doing" is a grammatically sound and frequently used past progressive verb phrase that describes ongoing actions in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread application across diverse contexts, including news, academia, and scientific writing. The phrase maintains a neutral register and is suitable for describing events in progress, providing context and background information. When using "were doing", ensure consistent tense usage and consider alternatives like "were performing" or "were undertaking" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were performing

Emphasizes the execution or carrying out of a task or activity.

were undertaking

Suggests a more formal or significant endeavor.

were carrying out

Highlights the process of completing a specific task or duty.

were engaged in

Indicates active involvement or participation in an activity.

were working on

Focuses on the effort and development involved in a project or task.

were in the process of

Emphasizes the continuous and ongoing nature of an action.

were occupied with

Implies being busy or preoccupied with a particular activity.

were handling

Suggests managing or dealing with a situation or task.

were taking care of

Focuses on the responsibility and attention given to something.

were executing

Highlights the planned and deliberate nature of the activity.

FAQs

How can I use "were doing" in a sentence?

Use "were doing" to describe actions that were in progress at a specific point in the past. For instance, "We "were doing" our homework when the guests arrived unexpectedly" indicates a continuous action interrupted by another event.

What alternatives can I use instead of "were doing"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "were performing", "were conducting", or "were engaged in" to convey similar meanings.

Is it correct to say "was doing" instead of "were doing"?

The correctness depends on the subject. Use "was doing" with singular subjects (e.g., "He was doing") and ""were doing"" with plural subjects (e.g., "They were doing").

What’s the difference between "were doing" and "had been doing"?

"Were doing" describes an action in progress at a specific time in the past, while "had been doing" describes an action that started in the past and continued until another point in the past. For example, "They were doing their homework when I arrived" versus "They had been doing their homework for two hours when I arrived".