were in operation

USAGE SUMMARY

"were in operation" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe something that has been running or functioning. Example: The factories were in operation 24 hours a day.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Daily data were averaged across the 3 monitoring stations that were in operation during the study interval.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

Some 12,000 aircraft were in operation on D-day.

The Guardian

At the end of 1999, 427 were in operation.

The New York Times

In 2002, approximately 95 systems were in operation.

Ecohydrology & Hydrobiology

Yesterday, two of seven X-Ray rooms and two of eight elevators were in operation.

The New York Times

At the end of last year, 324 centers offering refugee resettlement were in operation.

The Washington Post

I phoned the number for the bus coordination to enquire how many buses were in operation.

The Guardian

"There wasn't a tree standing when these furnaces were in operation," Mr. Lenik said.

The New York Times

If universal free meals were in operation today, 173 children at this school would be eligible.

The Guardian

By 1851 more than 50 telegraph companies were in operation in the United States.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In 1838 a dam was built on the river, and soon several mills were in operation.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were in operation" when you need to clearly state that something was functioning or running at a specific time in the past.

Common error

Avoid using "was in operation" when referring to multiple items or a plural subject; use "were in operation" instead to maintain grammatical correctness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were in operation" functions as a predicate, indicating the state or condition of a subject (plural) being active or functional. It describes that something was up and running at a particular time. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were in operation" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate that something was actively functioning at a specific time. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. It is commonly found in various contexts, including news, science, and encyclopedias, with a neutral to formal register. When writing, ensure you use "were" with plural subjects and "was" with singular subjects to avoid grammatical errors. Related phrases include "were functioning" and "were active", providing alternative ways to express similar meanings. Using these guidelines will help you use "were in operation" correctly and effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were functioning

Focuses specifically on the functionality of something.

were running

Implies continuous operation, often for machines or processes.

were active

Indicates a state of being engaged or working.

were working

Highlights that something is currently performing its intended task.

were up and running

Emphasizes the successful commencement or resumption of operation.

were online

Specifically refers to systems connected and available via a network.

were in service

Suggests a formal or official state of being operational and available for use.

were live

Indicates that something is currently broadcast or available in real-time.

were in effect

Focuses on the enforcement or implementation of rules, laws, or agreements.

were activated

Highlights the point at which something was switched on or made operational.

FAQs

How do I use "were in operation" in a sentence?

Use "were in operation" to describe a state where multiple systems, facilities, or entities were actively functioning at a particular time. For example, "During the festival, all food stalls "were in operation"".

What's a more formal alternative to "were in operation"?

In more formal contexts, consider using "were functioning" or "were active". For instance, instead of "the plants "were in operation"", you could say "the plants "were functioning" efficiently".

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

"Was in operation" is used with singular subjects, while "were in operation" is used with plural subjects. For example, "the factory "was in operation"", but "the factories "were in operation"".

What does "were in operation" imply?

"Were in operation" implies that a system, service, or entity was not only present but also actively functioning and available for its intended purpose during a specific period.