were in demand

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were in demand" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was sought after or needed during a specific time period. Example: "During the holiday season, toys were in demand, leading to shortages in stores."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Stylists were in demand.

The New York Times

When medical treatment was illegal, they were in demand.

The Guardian - Film

"We were in demand," wrote Pelé in his autobiography.

The Guardian - Sport

Works on paper that Miller owned were in demand.

The New York Times

Soon, Yankees caps in every conceivable color were in demand.

The New York Times - Sports

Tipitina's suffered only limited wind damage, and the foundation's services were in demand.

The New York Times

Pharmaceutical companies were in demand after positive comments at a JP Morgan healthcare conference.

The Guardian - Business

The sinners can take heart, though - cigarette groups were in demand.

The Guardian - Business

Back with UK shares utility shares were in demand as investors shied away from riskier assets.

The Guardian - Business

By now his Cubist-inspired paintings were in demand, and he was offered gallery exhibitions.

The New York Times

Mining groups were in demand, on hopes of a recovery in the global economy.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were in demand" when you want to indicate that something was highly sought after or needed at a particular time. Ensure the context clearly establishes the timeframe.

Common error

Avoid using "were in demand" to describe current situations. Use "are in demand" instead to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were in demand" functions as a predicative adjective phrase. It describes a noun in the plural form, indicating that the entity was highly sought after or needed during a specific period. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Science

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were in demand" is a grammatically sound and widely used expression to indicate that something was highly sought after or needed in the past. Ludwig AI confirms this, as the phrase consistently appears in diverse contexts, particularly in News & Media and Formal & Business settings. While versatile, it's important to consider the appropriate tense ("are in demand" for present situations) and choose synonyms like "were highly sought after" for more formal tones. By understanding its function, purpose, and context, you can effectively use "were in demand" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were highly sought after

Replaces "in demand" with a synonym emphasizing active seeking and desirability.

were much requested

Focuses on the aspect of being asked for frequently.

were at a premium

Highlights the increased value and desirability leading to higher prices or scarcity.

were a hot commodity

Emphasizes the item or service's popularity and market value.

were indispensable

Indicates something was essential or absolutely necessary.

were essential

Highlights the necessity or crucial nature of something.

were needed

Simplifies the phrase to express a basic requirement.

were popular

Indicates widespread liking or approval.

saw high demand

Changes the structure to focus on the 'demand' itself.

enjoyed great popularity

Shifts the emphasis to the characteristic of being popular.

FAQs

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

Use "were in demand" to indicate that something was highly requested or necessary during a specific period. For example, "During the gold rush, prospectors "were in demand"".

What's a formal alternative to "were in demand"?

In formal contexts, you can use alternatives like "were highly sought after" or "were much requested" to convey a similar meaning with a more sophisticated tone.

Is it correct to say "was in demand" instead of "were in demand"?

"Was in demand" is used with singular nouns, while "were in demand" is used with plural nouns. For example, "The product was in demand", versus "The services "were in demand"".

What is the difference between "are in demand" and "were in demand"?

"Are in demand" indicates something is currently popular or needed, while "were in demand" indicates it was popular or needed in the past. Ensure you choose the correct tense to reflect the appropriate timeframe.