were had

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'were had' is not correct or usable in written English.
It is a garbled version of the phrase 'were had by', which is a passive verb construction used when discussing ownership or control. For example: "The medals were had by the winning team."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Adventures were had.

The New York Times - Magazine

Arguments were had.

The Guardian - Books

Good times were had by all.

The Guardian

Chats were had about fees and media work.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Things might have continued as they were had MicroStrategy not gotten a little cute.

The New York Times

In comparison, the digital images, good and accurate as they were, had seemed flat.

The New Yorker

More great views were had later on the roof of the J Parker bar.

The Guardian

But those machines, corrupt though they were, had their Robin Hood aspects.

The New Yorker

Drinks were had there by the likes of Humphrey Bogart and Ernest Hemingway.

The New York Times

The best seats yesterday were had by people who sat double-parked on Clermont Avenue.

The New York Times

Those that were had had the equivalent to a 3.4% rise on average.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always ensure that verb tenses agree in your sentences. "Were" is a plural past tense, so ensure the following verb form fits the context. In most correct usages, a form of "to be" will follow "were", for example "were being" or "were to be".

Common error

Avoid using "were had" when you mean "had been". "Were had" is almost always grammatically incorrect; use "had been" to denote a past perfect passive construction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were had" typically functions as an incorrect attempt at forming the passive perfect construction. Ludwig AI indicates that this construction is generally not correct in standard English. Instead, "had been" is the appropriate form for expressing an action completed in the past.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

46%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "were had" appears frequently in various sources analyzed by Ludwig, it is generally grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI emphasizes that the correct form for the past perfect passive is typically "had been". Though examples exist across News & Media and Science categories, these occurrences often represent errors rather than accepted usage. To ensure grammatical accuracy, replace "were had" with "had been" or consider alternative phrases like "experienced" or "took place" depending on the context. Always prioritize correct verb tense and voice to maintain clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been

Corrects the verb tense to passive perfect, indicating a completed action in the past.

were had by

Clarifies the passive construction by specifying who or what possessed something.

experienced

Replaces the phrase with a simple verb that conveys the sense of undergoing an event.

enjoyed

Suggests a positive experience or benefit.

occurred

Replaces the phrase with a neutral term for something that took place.

took place

Offers a more common and grammatically sound alternative to express an event happening.

were conducted

If referring to events like discussions or analysis, this provides a more appropriate phrasing.

were performed

If implying work that has been done.

were carried out

Conveys the execution or completion of a task or activity.

resulted in

Indicates that something led to a particular outcome or consequence.

FAQs

Is the phrase "were had" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "were had" is generally not grammatically correct in standard English. It often appears as a mistake when trying to form the past perfect passive voice. The correct form is usually "had been".

How can I correct sentences using "were had"?

Replace "were had" with "had been" to form the past perfect passive. For example, instead of "Mistakes were had", use "Mistakes had been made".

What's a better way to phrase something if I'm tempted to use "were had"?

Depending on the intended meaning, consider using alternative phrases such as "experienced", "enjoyed", or "occurred". The best choice depends on the specific context.

When might "were had by" be used correctly?

The phrase "were had by" can be correct in specific contexts where you want to emphasize who possessed or experienced something. For example, "Good times "were had by" all present" emphasizes that everyone present enjoyed the good times.