were still missing

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence 'were still missing' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when talking about something that is not found or cannot be accounted for. For example, "After the search was complete, two of the students were still missing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

All were still missing yesterday.

The New York Times - Food

Meanwhile, 43 people were still missing.

Independent

Some children were still missing; four were rescued.

The New York Times

Three Sherpas were still missing after Saturday's rescue effort.

The Guardian

The Seahawks were still missing linebacker Bruce Irvin.

The Guardian - Sport

Dozens more people were still missing and feared dead.

The New York Times

He added that four of the fishermen were still missing.

The New York Times

He said many were still missing in other kidnappings.

The New York Times

The Palestinian naval police said two people were still missing.

The New York Times

The other five were still missing Thursday night, French officials said, and search efforts were continuing.

The New York Times

Five other Americans were taken prisoner and at least three were still missing.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When reporting on missing persons or items, ensure the context clearly indicates the timeframe to which "were still missing" refers. For example, specify "were still missing as of yesterday" to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "were still missing" when the situation is purely speculative and there's no factual basis for assuming something or someone is indeed missing. Stick to confirmed reports or evidence-based scenarios.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were still missing" functions as a verb phrase indicating a continuing state of absence or loss at a particular point in the past. Ludwig examples demonstrate this usage in contexts related to missing persons, objects, or data.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

96%

Science

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were still missing" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression, primarily found in news and media contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it serves to report or inform about an ongoing state of absence at a point in the past. When using this phrase, clarity is key, particularly in specifying the timeframe. Alternatives such as ""remained unaccounted for"" or "had not been located" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remained unaccounted for

Focuses on the lack of an explanation or accounting for their whereabouts.

had not yet been located

Emphasizes the failure to find or pinpoint their location.

were yet to be found

Highlights the anticipation or expectation of finding them in the future.

remained lost

Focuses on the state of being lost, with an ongoing implication.

had not been recovered

Suggests an effort to retrieve or reclaim something or someone.

were not yet discovered

Emphasizes that they are unknown or undetected.

continued to be absent

Highlights their lack of presence over a period of time.

were outstanding

Implies they were unresolved or pending.

were as yet unconfirmed

Focuses on the lack of verification or certainty regarding their status.

persisted in being missing

Emphasizes the continuous state of being missing.

FAQs

How can I use "were still missing" in a sentence?

The phrase "were still missing" is used to indicate that, at a specific point in time, certain individuals or items had not yet been found or accounted for. For example, "After the earthquake, many people "remained unaccounted for"".

What can I say instead of "were still missing"?

You can use alternatives like "remained lost", "had not been located", or ""remained unaccounted for" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "are still missing" instead of "were still missing"?

The correct tense depends on the timeframe you're referencing. "Are still missing" indicates a present state, while "were still missing" refers to a past state. Choose the tense that accurately reflects the timeline. For example, if the search is ongoing, you might use "are", but if you are talking about a point in the past, you'd use "were".

What's the difference between "were still missing" and "had been missing"?

"Were still missing" implies that at a certain point in the past, the individuals or items had not yet been found, focusing on that specific moment. "Had been missing" describes a state that existed before a certain point in the past; the emphasis is on the duration of the missing status prior to that point.