were doubled

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were doubled" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has been increased or multiplied by two, often in a past context. Example: "The profits from last quarter were doubled compared to the previous year."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"When it came out, we were doubled over with laughter.

The New York Times - Science

But most of the players were doubled up in hysterics.

The New York Times

They beat Yorkshire Carnegie at home but were doubled by Doncaster in two close games.

The Guardian - Sport

It appears that counts from those machines were doubled through human error.

The New York Times

As a result the crime rate was half what it was before and arrests were doubled.

The New Yorker

But Lars & the rest of the audience were doubled up with laughter.

The New Yorker

The University crafted an accelerated academic program, and ROTC courses were doubled from one to two per semester.

Princeton University

All contributions were doubled and distributed equally among all group members.

Nature

The contributed units were doubled and split equally among all group members.

Nature

The lucky ones among the Titanic passengers were "doubled or tripled up in staterooms," he wrote.

The New York Times

Heating and electricity tariffs were doubled, with bigger increases promised later this year.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were doubled" to clearly indicate a quantity or value has precisely increased by a factor of two. Ensure the context makes it clear what is being doubled.

Common error

Avoid using "were doubled" when referring to an approximate or estimated increase. For imprecise increases, use terms like "increased significantly" or "nearly doubled" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were doubled" typically functions as part of the passive voice construction of the verb 'double', indicating that a subject experienced a twofold increase. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

39%

News & Media

52%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "were doubled" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression that signifies a precise twofold increase. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is commonly used across diverse fields like science, news, and business. When using "were doubled", it's crucial to ensure clarity regarding what exactly is being doubled and to avoid using it for approximate increases. Alternative phrases like "were increased twofold" or "saw a twofold increase" can provide stylistic variety while maintaining precision. This comprehensive analysis helps writers utilize "were doubled" effectively and appropriately in various contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were increased twofold

Replaces "doubled" with a more explicit description of the increase.

were multiplied by two

Uses a mathematical term to describe the doubling.

saw a twofold increase

Shifts the focus to the increase itself rather than the action of doubling.

experienced a doubling

Nominalizes the verb, focusing on the event of doubling.

were twice as high

Describes the result of doubling rather than the process.

were increased by 100 percent

Expresses the doubling as a percentage increase.

underwent duplication

Emphasizes the process of creating a copy or second instance.

were replicated

Focuses on the aspect of making an identical copy.

had their quantity doubled

Specifies that it is the quantity that is being doubled.

were expanded to twice the size

Highlights the expansion in size as a result of the doubling.

FAQs

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

Use "were doubled" to indicate that a specific quantity or amount has increased by a factor of two. For example, "The company's profits "were doubled" this year compared to last year".

What can I say instead of "were doubled"?

You can use alternatives like "were increased twofold", "were multiplied by two", or "saw a twofold increase" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "were doubled" or "was doubled"?

"Were doubled" is used with plural subjects, while "was doubled" is used with singular subjects. For example, "The efforts "were doubled"" (plural) versus "The effort "was doubled"" (singular).

What's the difference between "were doubled" and "increased"?

"Were doubled" specifically means multiplied by two, resulting in a 100% increase. "Increased" is a more general term that indicates a rise in quantity or value, but not necessarily by a factor of two.