were very helpful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'were very helpful' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when referring to a person or a group who has provided help in some way. For example: "The volunteers were very helpful in making sure everyone completed the project on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Our colleagues were very helpful, providing us with reams of information to help our transition from postdocs to professors.

Science Magazine

"They were very helpful".

The New York Times - Science

They were very helpful with the buses.

The New York Times - Travel

They were very helpful, but I never found it again.

The Guardian

They were very helpful throughout and continue to be".

The Guardian

"Colleagues were very helpful in trying to keep it interesting.

The Guardian - Money

And the funny thing was, the police were very helpful".

The Guardian

It is nothing against the Jets' doctors because they were very helpful and they encouraged me.

The New York Times

"The Mafia guys were very helpful to me at the time," he said.

The New Yorker

"They weren't honest but they were very helpful in my career.

The New York Times

"All the statements about Obama were very helpful, very respectful," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were very helpful" to express gratitude and acknowledge assistance received from multiple people or entities. For emphasis, consider adding specific details about how they were helpful.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that someone "were very helpful" without providing context or details. This can make your writing sound generic and less impactful. Instead, specify what made them helpful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were very helpful" functions as an adjective phrase. It modifies a noun or pronoun to describe the quality of being helpful, indicating that someone or something provided assistance or support. As Ludwig AI shows, the phrase is used to express gratitude or acknowledgement of assistance received.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Science

34%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were very helpful" is a common and grammatically correct way to express gratitude for assistance received. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s widely used across diverse contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business domains. While versatile, providing specific details about how someone was helpful can significantly enhance the impact of your writing. When choosing alternatives, consider options like "provided great assistance" or "offered significant support" based on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

provided great assistance

Focuses on the act of giving help, emphasizing the quality of assistance.

offered significant support

Highlights the backing or encouragement provided, emphasizing its importance.

were instrumental in aiding

Emphasizes the crucial role played in providing help.

were quite supportive

Indicates a level of encouragement and help given.

were of considerable help

Stresses the amount or degree of help provided.

gave invaluable assistance

Highlights the irreplaceable value of the help offered.

were extremely beneficial

Focuses on the positive impact or advantage resulting from the help.

proved to be a great asset

Positions the helpers as valuable resources.

were exceptionally accommodating

Highlights the willingness to adjust or adapt to provide assistance.

contributed significantly

Emphasizes the extent of contribution in providing help.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "were very helpful" in a sentence?

You can use alternatives like "provided great assistance", "offered significant support", or "were instrumental in aiding" depending on the specific context.

Is "were very helpful" too informal for academic writing?

While "were very helpful" is generally acceptable, more formal alternatives like "were of considerable help" or "contributed significantly" might be preferred in certain academic contexts for a more sophisticated tone.

When is it appropriate to use "were very helpful"?

"Were very helpful" is appropriate when you want to acknowledge the assistance provided by multiple individuals or groups. It's suitable for both formal and informal settings, although the context may influence your choice of synonyms.

What's the difference between "were very helpful" and "was very helpful"?

"Were very helpful" is used when referring to multiple subjects (plural), while "was very helpful" is used when referring to a single subject (singular). For example: "The team members were very helpful", versus "The team leader was very helpful".