One of the easiest ways to weaken a sentence is to begin it with “There was” or “There were” or "There is." These sentence openings rely on a placeholder instead of leading with the person, object, or action that actually matters. While this structure isn’t always wrong, frequent use creates slow, indirect prose and hides the real subject of the sentence. Consider this example from the world of Pinocchio:
There was a boy standing in Geppetto’s workshop.
Now compare it to a more direct version:
A wooden boy stood in Geppetto’s workshop.
Both sentences describe the same moment, but the second version leads with the subject that matters. The image appears immediately, without the extra setup.
Why “There Was” Weakens Writing
Sentences beginning with “there was” often create three problems. First, they delay the real subject of the sentence. The reader must move past the placeholder before discovering what the sentence is actually about. Second, they weaken the verb. Most “there was” constructions rely on the verb to be, which describes a condition rather than presenting action. Third, they slow the pacing. Repeated placeholder openings create a sluggish rhythm that drains energy from the prose. When these structures appear occasionally, they are harmless. When they appear repeatedly, they make the writing feel indirect and wordy.
How the Pattern Appears
This habit often shows up in sentences like these:
There was a strange noise coming from the corner of the workshop.
There were several puppets hanging from the wall.
There was a moment when Pinocchio considered telling the truth.
These sentences are stronger by placing the real subject at the front.
A strange noise came from the corner of the workshop.
Several puppets hung from the wall.
Pinocchio considered telling the truth.
The revisions remove the placeholder and let the sentence move directly into the image or action.
Watch for “There” Overuse Inside Sentences
Another related problem occurs when “there” appears repeatedly inside a sentence.
For example:
There were times when Pinocchio believed there was no way to escape the trouble he had created.
This sentence stacks multiple uses of “there,” which makes the wording clumsy and indirect. A clearer revision might read:
Sometimes Pinocchio believed he could never escape the trouble he had created.
The meaning stays the same, but the sentence becomes cleaner and easier to read.
A Simple Editing Test
When revising your manuscript, search for the phrases “there was” and “there were.” Then ask a simple question: What is the real subject of this sentence? Once you identify it, try rewriting the sentence so the subject appears first. Strong sentences lead with what matters most. Placeholder openings often hide it.