as we were speaking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as we were speaking" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a conversation that is currently happening or has just occurred, often to indicate that something relevant was mentioned during that conversation. Example: "As we were speaking about the project timeline, I realized we need to adjust our deadlines."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

In fact, a lot of the event didn't happen yet as we were speaking.

The New York Times

In fact, a lot of the event didn't even happen yet as we were speaking.

The Washington Post

In fact, a lot of it didn't even happen yet, as we were speaking.

The Washington Post

As we were speaking, Fonseca suddenly threw his phone on the floor.

The New Yorker

As we were speaking, A.P.C.s rumbled onto the road behind us, on their way from Westgate.

The New Yorker

"A lot of the behaviours I'd heard about from survivors were apparent as we were speaking to police.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

"Sometimes as we are speaking, she will morph into one of her impressions".

The New York Times

"I don't have any evidence of that as we're speaking".

The New York Times

In fact, as we're speaking, scientists are hard at work trying to develop such a vaccine, and indeed, they have come up with one.

Yale University

As we are speaking here, they just reported about an hour or so ago.

Forbes

As we're speaking, we are also linking new ideas to existing ones and refining our understanding.

International Journal of STEM Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the context of the conversation is clear to your audience to avoid confusion. This phrase works best when the conversation is either ongoing or very recent.

Common error

Avoid using "as we were speaking" if the conversation is not fresh in the minds of your audience or if it wasn't clearly established previously. Ensure your audience recalls the specific discussion you are referencing to maintain clarity and relevance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as we were speaking" functions as an adverbial phrase. It modifies a clause by indicating the temporal context in which something occurred, referencing a recent or ongoing conversation. Ludwig examples support this function, showing how the phrase situates events within a specific conversational timeframe.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

12%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "as we were speaking" serves as an adverbial phrase, typically used to connect a statement to a recent or ongoing conversation, as confirmed by Ludwig. It's grammatically correct and most commonly found in news and media contexts, though it also appears in academic and formal business settings. Ludwig AI suggests that using this phrase effectively involves ensuring the conversational context is clear to your audience. While the phrase is useful for adding immediacy, it should be avoided if the reference to the conversation isn't fresh or well-established. Alternative phrases include "while we were talking" or "during our discussion", offering similar ways to reference a conversation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

while we were talking

Emphasizes the concurrent nature of the events and conversation.

during our discussion

Highlights the formal aspect of the conversation.

as we discussed

A more concise way to refer back to a previous point in the conversation.

in our conversation

A general reference to something mentioned within the conversation.

as we chatted

Implies a more informal and relaxed conversation.

while in conversation

Highlights that something occurred during the act of talking.

at the time of speaking

Focuses on the specific moment of the conversation.

as the conversation unfolded

Suggests a development or revelation during the conversation.

in the course of our talk

A more formal way of referring to the conversation.

during our exchange

Highlights the interactive nature of the conversation.

FAQs

How can I use "as we were speaking" in a sentence?

Use "as we were speaking" to refer back to a topic or point that was just discussed in a conversation. For example, "As we were speaking, I realized we need to adjust our budget."

What phrases are similar to "as we were speaking"?

Similar phrases include "while we were talking", "during our discussion", or "as we discussed".

Is it correct to say "as we spoke" instead of "as we were speaking"?

Yes, "as we spoke" is a correct alternative. However, "as we were speaking" emphasizes the ongoing or recent nature of the conversation, while "as we spoke" can refer to a conversation at any point in the past.

What's the difference between "as we are speaking" and "as we were speaking"?

"As we are speaking" refers to something happening right now, during the current conversation. "As we were speaking" refers to something that happened during a recent, but now concluded, conversation.