were equally

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "were" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it when you are talking about two things that are equal in some way. For example, "The two candidates' qualifications were equally impressive."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Others were equally unequivocal.

The New York Times

"We were equally intense.

The New York Times - Magazine

Appetizers were equally exciting.

The New York Times

Both were equally irreverent.

The New York Times - Arts

Landlords were equally angry.

The New York Times

Agents were equally shameless.

The New York Times

Entrees were equally appealing.

The New York Times

Others were equally defiant.

The Guardian

Others were equally enthusiastic.

The Guardian

Willingham's lawyers were equally pleased.

The New Yorker

Both terms were equally passé.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure clarity by placing "were equally" close to the elements being compared. This reduces ambiguity and helps readers understand the intended comparison more effectively.

Common error

Avoid placing "were equally" in a way that it ambiguously modifies the wrong part of the sentence. Ensure it clearly applies to the intended subjects being compared.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were equally" functions as a comparative adverbial phrase. It modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb to indicate that two or more subjects share a quality or characteristic to the same degree. Ludwig examples show its application across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Encyclopedias

6%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were equally" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that two or more things are the same in a particular aspect. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread use across diverse sources, primarily in news and media. When using "were equally", ensure it clearly modifies the intended elements and avoid ambiguous placement to maintain clarity. Consider alternatives like "were similarly" or "were just as" for subtle variations in meaning. By following these guidelines, you can effectively and accurately use "were equally" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were similarly

Emphasizes the similarity in how things were, rather than strict equality.

were just as

Highlights that something was to the same degree or extent.

were as

A shorter, more direct way of stating equivalence.

were uniformly

Indicates a consistent state or characteristic across all instances.

were comparable

Focuses on the ability to compare two or more things as being on par.

were indistinguishable

Implies that there was no noticeable difference between the things being compared.

were on par

Suggests that things were at the same level or standard.

were of equal

Directly states that something shared the same quantity or quality.

were balanced

Implies an equilibrium or even distribution.

were commensurate

Indicates a proportional or corresponding relationship.

FAQs

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

Use "were equally" to compare two or more elements, indicating they share a similar quality or characteristic. For instance, "The candidates "were equally qualified" for the position".

What are some alternatives to "were equally"?

You can use alternatives such as "were similarly", "were just as", or "were comparable" depending on the context.

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

No, "was equally" is used with singular subjects, while "were equally" is used with plural subjects or in the past subjunctive mood. For example, "The tasks "were equally challenging"" (plural) versus "The task was equally challenging" (singular).

What's the difference between "were equally" and "were equitably"?

"Were equally" indicates that two or more things are the same in some way, while "were equitably" implies that something was distributed fairly or justly. For example, "The resources "were equally distributed"" (same amount) versus "The resources "were equitably distributed"" (fairly distributed based on need).