as we held

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as we held" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or action that occurred while something was being held or maintained, often in a narrative context. Example: "As we held the fragile vase, we could feel the tension in the air, knowing it was a precious family heirloom."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

As we held in Louisville & Nashville R. Co. v. Mottley, 211 U.S. 149, 152, 29 S.Ct.

Cornell University

One wet, raincoated shape as we held one another, our umbrellas forgotten.

The Washington Post

whether voluntary or involuntary, sane or insane.' In the one case, as we held in Ritter v. Mutual L. Ins.

Cornell University

Anything less than this, as we held in Nowakowski, would negate the office of the certificate of probable cause.

Cornell University

A search without a warrant demands exceptional circumstances, as we held in Johnson v. United States, supra.

Cornell University

The tiny turtles were exercising their instincts, paddling the air furiously as we held them between our fingers.

The New York Times - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

The point becomes irrelevant, however, when "conviction" means (as we hold) a finding of guilt.

Cornell University

Inasmuch as we hold the seizure to be justified under Chambers, we do not reach the issue of Lewis' consent.

Cornell University

Unite will consult with our members as we hold the bank to its promise to avoid compulsory redundancies".

The Guardian - Business

We hold these truths as we hold the twine, believing, without being sure, that the tugs and shocks are what we think they are.

The New Yorker

As we hold colleges to account for graduation rates — as we should — we must also remember that socioeconomics has a profound bearing on student success.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as we held" to clearly indicate simultaneous actions. For example, "As we held the rope, we felt the strain increase."

Common error

Avoid using "as we held" when you intend to describe a sequential action, where holding precedes a subsequent event. In such cases, use "after we held" or "once we had held" for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as we held" functions as a temporal adverbial phrase, indicating simultaneity between the act of holding and another action or state. This is supported by Ludwig, which presents numerous examples where the phrase introduces a clause describing a concurrent event.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

25%

Science

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "as we held" serves as a temporal marker, indicating that two actions occurred concurrently. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide applicability. It is predominantly found in news and academic contexts, with a neutral register suitable for diverse writing styles. While various alternatives exist, such as "while we were holding", it's crucial to select the option that best captures the intended meaning and temporal relationship. Use "as we held" to create clear and vivid descriptions of simultaneous events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

while we were holding

Replaces "as" with "while" and uses the continuous form "were holding", emphasizing the duration of the action.

during the time we held

Rephrases to specify duration more explicitly.

when we grasped

Replaces "held" with "grasped", implying a firmer grip.

during our holding

Nominalizes the action, focusing on the period of holding something.

as we maintained

Substitutes "held" with "maintained", suggesting a continued state or position.

as we clutched

Emphasizes a tight, possibly anxious, grip.

while keeping

Highlights the action of keeping something in a certain state during the time.

in the act of holding

Formalizes the action, focusing on the process.

as our grip remained

Shifts focus to the state of the grip itself.

with us in possession

Changes structure to highlight possession rather than the act of holding.

FAQs

How can I use "as we held" in a sentence?

Use "as we held" to describe an action happening simultaneously with the act of holding something. For example, "As we held the baby, we sang a lullaby."

What can I say instead of "as we held"?

You can use alternatives like "while we were holding" or "during the time we held" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "as we were holding" instead of "as we held"?

Both "as we held" and "as we were holding" can be correct, but they convey slightly different nuances. "As we held" implies a simple simultaneous action, while "as we were holding" emphasizes the duration or ongoing nature of the holding.

What is the difference between "as we held" and "after we held"?

"As we held" indicates that two actions occurred at the same time. "After we held" indicates that the holding action was completed before the subsequent action took place. For example: "As we held the package, it started to shake" vs "After we held the package, we noticed it was addressed incorrectly."