were greatly impressed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were greatly impressed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that a group of people had a strong positive reaction to something they experienced or observed. Example: "The audience were greatly impressed by the performance of the orchestra last night."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

The people who saw it were greatly impressed.

The New Yorker

Tells about teachers like Olivier Messiaen who were greatly impressed with his talents and intellectual gifts.

The New Yorker

"There was no theater in town, and we were greatly impressed by the vibe of the city.

The New York Times

Young men like Wernher von Braun and Willy Ley were greatly impressed, so much so that they later became rocket scientists.

The New York Times - Books

The Jewish apologist Josephus and certain Christian apologists thought the works were the genuine prophecy of the sibyls and were greatly impressed by the way in which their doctrines were confirmed by external testimony.

Encyclopedia Britannica

From the start, we were greatly impressed by your disdain for democratic principles - the way you wrested power from the democratically elected candidate in the 2000 election, and again in 2005 when you managed to swing what was clearly going to be a victory for your opponent.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

The East was greatly impressed.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"Dear Mr. Nixon: I was greatly impressed by your radio address on the subject of employment....".

The New Yorker

For all the grave claims made against him, the authorities have yet to be greatly impressed.

The Guardian

When he picked it up, he was greatly impressed by the economic insights and practical detail it contained.

The New Yorker

Much to his delight, his friend informed him that the Queen had read the essay and was greatly impressed.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were greatly impressed" to clearly convey a strong, positive reaction by a group to something observed or experienced. It is suitable for formal and neutral contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "were greatly impressed" when active voice would be more direct and engaging. For example, instead of "The judges were greatly impressed by her performance", consider "Her performance greatly impressed the judges."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were greatly impressed" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that a subject experienced a significant positive impact or admiration. Ludwig examples show it used to describe reactions to performances, ideas, and individuals. This aligns with Ludwig AI's assessment of the phrase's correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were greatly impressed" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to convey a strong, positive reaction. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across various contexts. It's most commonly found in news and media, encyclopedias, and scientific sources, indicating a formal to neutral register. While effective, consider using active voice for more direct writing. Alternatives like "were highly impressed" or "were deeply impressed" can provide slight variations in meaning. Remember to use this phrase to convey a genuine and significant sense of admiration or positive impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were very impressed

Replaces "greatly" with "very", slightly reducing the intensity of the impression.

were deeply impressed

Substitutes "greatly" with "deeply", suggesting a more profound impact.

were highly impressed

Replaces "greatly" with "highly", emphasizing the degree of admiration.

were extremely impressed

Substitutes "greatly" with "extremely", intensifying the level of impressment.

were favorably impressed

Replaces "greatly" with "favorably", indicating a positive assessment.

were strongly affected

Shifts from impression to effect, highlighting the impact experienced.

found it very impressive

Changes the sentence structure to actively express finding something impressive.

were really wowed

Uses a more informal and emphatic expression to convey strong positive feelings.

were filled with admiration

Expresses the feeling inspired, focusing on the resulting admiration.

held in high regard

Indicates esteem and respect resulting from the impression.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "were greatly impressed" in a formal context?

In formal writing, you can replace "were greatly impressed" with phrases like "were highly impressed" or "were deeply impressed" to maintain a professional tone.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "were greatly impressed"?

While "were greatly impressed" is grammatically correct, using the active voice, such as "[Subject] greatly impressed [Audience]", can make your writing more direct and engaging. Consider your audience and the desired emphasis.

What is a more informal way to say "were greatly impressed"?

For informal contexts, consider using phrases like "were really wowed" or "thought it was amazing" to convey enthusiasm in a more casual manner.

What's the difference between "were impressed" and "were greatly impressed"?

"Were impressed" indicates a general positive reaction, while "were greatly impressed" signifies a significantly stronger, more positive reaction. The addition of "greatly" intensifies the degree of admiration or positive impact.