while they were visiting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "while they were visiting" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something occurred during the time that a group of people was visiting a place or person. Example: "While they were visiting the museum, they learned about ancient artifacts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

But two years ago, while they were visiting relatives in the United States, their boat was destroyed by Hurricane Wilma.

The New York Times

The aunt and uncle of a good friend of mine stayed here over Christmas while they were visiting their family in New York.

The New York Times

The news of Bridger's appeal was broken to the family by Dyfed-Powys police while they were visiting relatives in Australia.

The Guardian

Mr. Lewis said his clients believed their voice-mail messages were intercepted while they were visiting the United States or as they left messages on British cellphones that had been hacked by The News of the World.

The New York Times

Le Monde has published a series of photos taken by Amedy Coulibaly and his girlfriend in 2010, while they were visiting Islamic radical Djamel Beghal, who Le Monde has called Cherif Kouachi's mentor.

The Guardian

Here is how he has pursued Republican Assemblyman Greg Ball's vote: He stopped Mr. Ball's parents while they were visiting the Capitol, and asked them to urge their son to back the measure.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

A 60-second video about MoMA will also be shown on Lufthansa flights, serving as an invitation to passengers to visit the museum while they are visiting New York City.

The New York Times

When he visits his own businesses, Trump brings along an entourage of aides and military personnel — who often spend taxpayer money while they're visiting.

The Washington Post

The network will add another 2,000 pickup points by March next year, giving more small shops the chance to entice those popping in to pick up their parcel to buy something extra while they are visiting.

The Guardian - Business

The same training and philosophy that guides the training for the Disney parks we will be using to help guide the training for our employees hoping to create a not dissimilar environment for people feeling welcome and having an enjoyable experience while they're visiting us.

Forbes

Leave them a few surprises for them to discover all on their own while they're visiting Universal Orlando Resort.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "while they were visiting" to clearly indicate that an event occurred during a specific period of someone's visit. This helps establish a clear chronological relationship between the visit and the event.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by ensuring the phrase is placed close to the subject it modifies. Incorrect: "The accident happened while they were visiting, shocking everyone." Correct: "While they were visiting, the accident happened, shocking everyone."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "while they were visiting" functions as an adverbial clause, modifying the main clause by providing a temporal context. As Ludwig AI suggests, it specifies when an action or event took place in relation to the act of visiting.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

24%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Academia

6%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "while they were visiting" functions as an adverbial clause used to indicate that an action or event occurred during a period when someone was visiting a place or person. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide applicability. It is commonly found in news, scientific, and general contexts. Alternatives like "during their visit" can offer a more formal tone. When using this phrase, ensure it's placed correctly to avoid misplaced modifier errors. It's a versatile phrase, used across many contexts to describe when something happened as someone was visiting.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

during their visit

Focuses on the visit as a period of time.

during their stay

Emphasizes the temporary nature of their presence.

as they visited

Highlights the act of visiting.

while on vacation

Specifies that the visit is part of a vacation.

on the occasion of their visit

More formal way to indicate a specific visit.

when they came to visit

Highlights the arrival and purpose of the visit.

whilst they were touring

Implies the visit is part of a tour.

during their trip

Focuses on the journey and visit as a whole.

as they were touring around

Implies casual visiting of multiple places.

on their sojourn

Implies a longer, more meaningful visit.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "while they were visiting" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases such as "during their visit" or "on the occasion of their visit". These options provide a more elevated and sophisticated way to express the same idea.

What's the difference between "during their visit" and "while they were visiting"?

"During their visit" emphasizes the entire period of the visit, whereas "while they were visiting" focuses on a specific action or event that occurred within that timeframe. The choice depends on whether you want to highlight the whole visit or a particular moment.

Can I use "while they visited" instead of "while they were visiting"?

While "while they visited" is grammatically acceptable, "while they were visiting" is more common and often sounds more natural in contemporary English. The continuous tense emphasizes that the visiting was ongoing when something else happened.

What are some alternatives to "while they were visiting" for a shorter sentence?

You could use alternatives like "as they visited" or rephrase the sentence to eliminate the need for the phrase altogether. For example, instead of "The incident occurred while they were visiting", you could say "The incident occurred during their visit".