"were in the habit of" is a phrase used to describe a regular or reoccurring action or behavior that someone or a group of people often engaged in, usually in the past. This expression signifies a pattern or routine that was typical or characteristic of a particular individual or a collective.
The term "were" denotes the past tense of the verb "to be," while "in the habit of" implies the consistent nature of an action or behavior. When combined, these words convey the idea that someone frequently performed a specific action as part of their usual routine or established custom.
For example, if someone says, "She was in the habit of going for a jog every morning," it means that this person had developed a regular routine of engaging in a morning jog. It suggests that such a behavior was common or expected from her and occurred regularly in the past.
This phrase can be used to indicate a habitual action, mannerism, or characteristic shared by a group of people as well. For instance, "They were in the habit of meeting every Friday evening to play cards." This implies that the group had a customary practice of gathering on Friday evenings to engage in card games.
Overall, "were in the habit of" refers to a consistent and repetitive action or behavior that someone, or a group of people, commonly partook in, typically indicating a past routine or custom.
