it woke us

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it woke us" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an event or situation that caused a group of people to wake up, either literally or metaphorically. Example: "The loud thunderstorm outside was so intense that it woke us from our deep sleep."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

It was one hell of a crash, amazingly framed, and a different part of one's consciousness was called up to absorb it; but, in its love of lusty surfeit, with Sturm piled on Drang, it woke us and whacked us into the too-muchness of the modern, releasing not just an angry monster but a whole new genus of story, which promptly, and without apology, trampled over the delicacy of what had come before.

The New Yorker

Martin added: "It woke us up.

The New York Times - Sports

"It woke us up a little bit," Ms. Caswell, 25, of Hackensack, N.J., said of their business meeting amid beds of daffodils and stands of forsythia.

The New York Times

"I think the results were a bit of sub-conscious warning for us, it woke us up a bit," Wenger admitted.

Independent

It woke us all up, put a sharp point on our need to communicate better," says Frank Dunn, Nortel's current chief financial officer.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"It wakes us right up".

The New Yorker

Shock has value, too: it wakes us up.

The New Yorker

It wakes us up in the morning, provides us with a warm and cuddly virtual safety net and occasionally makes a low purring sound for no apparent reason.

The Guardian

"It wakes us up constantly," said the woman, who spoke on the condition that her name not be printed because she did not want to aggravate her already strained relations with Mr. Lee's wife, and did not want to be seen as a complainer.

The New York Times

It wakes us up in the middle of the night with fresh ideas.

Huffington Post

If we snooze our alarm the moment it wakes us we may fall back into deep sleep, making waking on our alarm's second, third, or fourth attempt even more painful.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it woke us" when you want to describe a specific event or realization that caused a group to become alert, aware, or active after a period of dormancy or unawareness.

Common error

Avoid using "it woke us" when a more precise term is needed. For example, if a sound literally woke you, specify the sound. If it's a realization, consider "it made us realize" rather than metaphorically stating "it woke us".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "it woke us" is as a clause functioning as a statement. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is considered correct and appropriate for use.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it woke us" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a moment of sudden awakening or realization. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and suitable for a variety of contexts, most commonly found in news and media. While not the most frequent expression, alternatives like "it alerted us" or "it made us aware" can offer more precise shades of meaning depending on the situation. When writing, consider whether a literal or figurative awakening is intended to ensure clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it awakened us

Uses a more formal synonym for "woke".

it roused us

Suggests a stirring from inactivity or sleep.

it alerted us

Implies a warning or signal that brought awareness.

it made us aware

Focuses on the resulting state of being informed.

it brought us to our senses

Emphasizes a return to rationality or clear thinking.

it opened our eyes

A more figurative expression for becoming aware.

it shook us up

Highlights a jarring or unsettling awakening.

it snapped us out of it

Implies a sudden interruption of a negative state.

it stirred us awake

A more poetic way of saying it woke us from sleep.

it gave us a jolt

Suggests a sudden shock or surprise that prompted awareness.

FAQs

How can I use "it woke us" in a sentence?

You can use "it woke us" to describe an event or realization that caused a group to become alert or aware. For example, "The unexpected news really "it woke us" up to the severity of the problem."

What can I say instead of "it woke us"?

You can use alternatives like "it alerted us", "it made us aware", or "it brought us to our senses" depending on the context.

Is "it woke us" grammatically correct?

Yes, "it woke us" is grammatically correct. "Woke" is the past tense of "wake", and the sentence follows a standard subject-verb-object structure.

What's the difference between "it woke us" and "it awakened us"?

"It awakened us" is a more formal alternative to ""it woke us"". While both phrases convey the same basic meaning, "awakened" carries a slightly more elevated tone.