were underweight

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were underweight" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe individuals or groups who have a body weight that is considered below the normal range for their height and age. Example: "The study found that many of the participants were underweight, which raised concerns about their overall health."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Poles in particular were underweight.

The Economist

Between them we were underweight," he fumed.

Independent

In 1990, more than half of the children in South Asia were underweight.

Harvard University

In a few dispatches, the caseworker did note that the boys were "underweight".

The New York Times

Twenty-seven percent of children under 5 in the developing world were underweight.

The New York Times

Authorities said many of the cats had hair loss and scabby skin as a result of fleas and were underweight.

The Washington Post

Before the deal was announced, U.K. fund managers were underweight the stock relative to its position in the FTSE index.

The New York Times

The BAML survey found that a net 55% of investors were underweight bonds.

The Economist

Babies born after the attacks had significantly shorter gestations and smaller head circumferences, and were underweight.

The Economist

Of those who responded, three percent were underweight, 41percentt were normal weight, 21percentt were overweight, 21percentt were obese and 14percentt were extremely obese.

Yale University

More migraine subjects were underweight and less overweight.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a group's weight, specify the criteria used to determine if they "were underweight". This adds precision and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Do not use phrases like "slightly underweight" without providing context or quantifiable metrics. Instead, specify the degree of underweight or the measurement used (e.g., BMI).

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were underweight" functions primarily as a descriptive adjective phrase. It modifies a noun (usually a person or a group of people) by indicating that they had a body weight below the standard or healthy range. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

52%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Academia

6%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were underweight" is a commonly used and grammatically sound phrase used to describe individuals or groups whose body weight falls below a healthy or expected range. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is prevalent in scientific, news, and business contexts, often carrying implications of health concerns. When using the phrase, it's important to provide sufficient context and avoid vague qualifiers, aiming for precise and informative communication. Alternatives like "had a low weight" or "presented with low body mass" can be used to vary expression while maintaining accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had a low weight

Focuses on the weight status rather than the comparison to a standard.

were below a healthy weight

Emphasizes the health implications of being underweight.

had insufficient weight

Highlights the lack of adequate weight.

presented with low body mass

A more clinical or scientific way to describe being underweight.

had less than the standard weight

Directly compares weight to a defined standard.

were too light

A more general term indicating a lack of weight.

showed weight deficiency

A formal way of stating that weight is below the required level.

exhibited signs of malnourishment

Suggests a more severe condition where the lack of weight is due to poor nutrition.

were wasted

Indicates severe weight loss, often due to illness.

were considerably thinner

Highlights the visual aspect of being underweight.

FAQs

How do you use "were underweight" in a sentence?

The phrase "were underweight" is used to describe a state of having a body weight that is below what is considered healthy or normal. For example, "The patients in the study "were underweight" due to malnutrition".

What's a more formal way to say "were underweight"?

A more formal way to say "were underweight" could be "exhibited a weight deficiency" or "presented with low body mass". These alternatives are often used in clinical or scientific contexts.

What can I say instead of "were underweight" to emphasize the health implications?

To emphasize the health implications, you could say "were below a healthy weight" or "exhibited signs of malnourishment".

Is it always negative to say someone "were underweight"?

Generally, stating that someone "were underweight" implies a negative health connotation, suggesting potential nutritional deficiencies or underlying health issues. However, context matters, as in some athletic contexts, a lower weight might be strategically desirable.