were very satisfied

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were very satisfied" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a high level of contentment or approval regarding a situation or experience in the past. Example: "After the event, the attendees were very satisfied with the organization and the quality of the presentations."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In January 2017, the last time Gallup asked the question, 87% were satisfied, including 57% who were very satisfied.

Forbes

They were very satisfied with the proceedings.

The New Yorker

Most consumers who hired a lawyer were "very satisfied".

The Economist

Overall we were very satisfied with the results of our project.

Cornell University

Ninety one percent of the respondents reported that they were very satisfied with the pump design.

Groundwater for Sustainable Development

Caregivers were very satisfied with the interventions and rated them as highly acceptable, effective, and nonintrusive.

Behavior Therapy

Forty-two percent of respondents said they were very satisfied with their jobs, up from 37percentt last year.

The Washington Post

On average, 37% of men indicated they were very satisfied with their overall advancement, compared with 30% of women.

Harvard Business Review

Nearly 90percentt of women in those trials also reported that they were very satisfied with this option.

The New York Times

Of the 26 men surveyed 25 were very satisfied with the postoperative level of incontinence.

Duke University

The majority of the patients (17 of 20) were very satisfied with their anesthetic technique.

Duke University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were very satisfied", ensure the context clearly indicates what the subject is satisfied with. Be specific to avoid ambiguity. For example, "They were very satisfied with the final results of the project" is clearer than "They were very satisfied."

Common error

While acceptable, using "were very satisfied" repeatedly in formal reports can sound repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms like "were extremely pleased" or "were highly gratified" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were very satisfied" functions as a descriptive element, specifically an adjectival phrase, modifying a subject to indicate their state of contentment. Ludwig shows that it commonly expresses a positive reaction or assessment.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

54%

News & Media

30%

Academia

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were very satisfied" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to convey a high level of contentment or approval. According to Ludwig, it frequently appears in scientific, news, and academic contexts. While its usage is generally acceptable across various registers, it's advisable to consider more formal synonyms like "were extremely pleased" or "were highly gratified" in professional settings for enhanced impact. Ludwig AI validates the phrase's correctness, reinforcing its reliability for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were extremely pleased

Emphasizes a higher degree of satisfaction using "extremely" instead of "very".

were highly gratified

Suggests a more formal and profound sense of satisfaction.

were really satisfied

Uses "really" as an alternative adverb, slightly less formal than "very".

were quite content

Focuses on a state of peaceful satisfaction rather than enthusiastic approval.

were thoroughly satisfied

Indicates a complete and exhaustive satisfaction.

were genuinely satisfied

Highlights the sincerity and authenticity of the satisfaction.

were deeply satisfied

Emphasizes the intensity and emotional depth of the satisfaction.

were greatly pleased

Uses "greatly" to amplify the feeling of being pleased.

were most satisfied

A slightly more emphatic way of expressing satisfaction.

were absolutely satisfied

Indicates complete and unwavering satisfaction.

FAQs

How can I use "were very satisfied" in a sentence?

You can use "were very satisfied" to express a high level of contentment with something that happened in the past. For example, "The customers "were very satisfied" with the quality of the service".

What are some alternatives to "were very satisfied"?

Some alternatives include "were extremely pleased", "were highly gratified", or "were really satisfied", depending on the level of formality you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "were very satisfied"?

Yes, "were very satisfied" is grammatically correct. "Were" is the past tense of "be", and "very satisfied" is an adjectival phrase describing a state of contentment.

What's the difference between "were satisfied" and "were very satisfied"?

The phrase "were very satisfied" indicates a stronger degree of satisfaction than simply "were satisfied". The addition of "very" intensifies the feeling of contentment.