both of us are

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "both of us are" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to refer to two people in the same sentence. For example: "Both of us are going on vacation to the beach next week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Then both of us are vanquished-are we not?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"Both of us are so used to playing every day," Williams said.

The New York Times - Sports

"Both of us are so tired.

The New York Times

Both of us are unrealistically optimistic.

The New York Times

Both of us are too nostalgic.

The New York Times

"Both of us are getting old.

The New York Times - Sports

Both of us are afraid and praying.

The Guardian

Both of us are quitting our jobs.

The Washington Post

"Both of us are going to carry this state.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Both of us were aware that the red spot might be cancerous.

The Washington Post

Both of us were patriots of idealism.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing dialogue, consider using contractions like "we're both" for a more conversational tone. In formal writing, however, "both of us are" may be preferable.

Common error

Avoid using singular verbs with "both of us". The phrase refers to two individuals, so always use the plural form of the verb (e.g., "Both of us are going", not "Both of us is going").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "both of us are" functions as a subject complement. It typically precedes a verb or adjective that describes a shared characteristic, state, or action between two individuals. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

13%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "both of us are" is a grammatically sound and frequently used construction to denote a shared attribute or state between two individuals. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, and the examples showcase its versatility across various contexts, particularly in news and academic writing. While alternatives exist, ranging from casual contractions like "we're both" to more formal expressions such as "the two of us are", "both of us are" provides a balanced and widely accepted option. Remember to maintain subject-verb agreement and consider the tone of your writing when choosing between these alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

We're both

Contraction of "we are both", slightly more casual.

We both are

Slightly more direct word order, placing emphasis on the 'we' rather than the shared state.

The pair of us are

Synonymous, highlighting that the two people form a pair.

The two of us are

Emphasizes the numerical aspect of being two people.

We are, both of us

Emphasizes 'we are' by placing it at the beginning of the sentence.

Us two are

More informal and colloquial version.

Both of us happen to be

Adds an element of chance or coincidence.

Both of us can say that we are

More verbose way of stating a shared condition.

Each of us is

Highlights the individuality within the shared state.

It is the case that both of us are

Formal, emphatic restructuring, suitable for formal context.

FAQs

How can I use "both of us are" in a sentence?

Use "both of us are" when you want to express that you and another person share a common characteristic, feeling, or action. For instance, "Both of us are excited about the trip" or "Both of us are working on the project".

What's a more formal alternative to "both of us are"?

While "both of us are" is perfectly acceptable, in highly formal contexts, you could use "the two of us are" to emphasize the number of individuals involved, or "it is the case that both of us are" for a more emphatic statement.

Which is correct, "both of us is" or "both of us are"?

"Both of us are" is correct. Since "both" refers to two people, it requires the plural verb form "are". "Both of us is" is grammatically incorrect.

What can I say instead of "both of us are" to sound more casual?

For a more casual tone, you can use contractions such as "we're both" or simply say "we both are", although the first option is more conversational.