we all expected

USAGE SUMMARY

"we all expected" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that everyone in a group had the same expectation. For example, "We all expected the meeting to start at 10am, but it didn't begin until 11am."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

General Conversation

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We all expected a little bit more.

Independent

"He did exactly what we all expected.

The New York Times - Sports

The same thing we all expected to happen.

The Washington Post

This is the USA team that we all expected.

The Guardian - Sport

We won the first two and I think we all expected we were going to win.

The New York Times - Sports

Suddenly, we all expected so much more from our handsets; they weren't just phones, but smartphones.

MIT Technology Review

We all expected him to deliver more of these poignant songs during the festival.

The New York Times

"It's certainly played a lot easier than we all expected in practice".

The New York Times - Sports

"He means a lot to this team and I thought tonight was the way we all expected him to play".

The New York Times - Sports

The contest is, as the online political digest Hotline put it, "the unexpectedly close race we all expected".

The New York Times

We all expected him to be cool and razzle-dazzley – like Tom Cruise being interviewed by Jonathan Ross.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we all expected" when you want to express a shared anticipation within a group. Ensure that the context clearly defines who "we" refers to.

Common error

Avoid using "we all expected" if the "we" is not clearly defined or if there's a significant chance that not everyone shared the same expectation. Ensure clarity to prevent misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we all expected" functions as a statement expressing a collective anticipation or shared belief. Ludwig examples showcase its use in various contexts, from sports outcomes to technological advancements, indicating its versatility.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Sport

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we all expected" is a commonly used phrase to express a shared anticipation or belief, as confirmed by Ludwig. Its grammatical structure is straightforward, and it functions to convey a collective understanding. This phrase is most frequently found in news and media contexts, with a neutral register suitable for various levels of formality. To ensure clarity, always define who "we" refers to and consider alternative phrases to more precisely reflect the intended nuance. The frequent usage across reputable sources underscores its validity and reliability in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

everyone anticipated

Focuses on anticipation by everyone rather than expectation held by all.

it was generally assumed

Highlights a widespread assumption rather than a specific expectation.

it was widely believed

Emphasizes the widespread belief about something.

it was the common expectation

Formalizes the idea of a shared expectation.

we were all anticipating

Shifts the focus slightly to the act of anticipating something.

everybody foresaw

Implies a degree of foresight shared among people.

it was predictable

Highlights the predictability of an event.

it was to be expected

Emphasizes that something was likely to happen.

the consensus was

Indicates a shared opinion or agreement.

as anticipated

Shorter, more concise way of saying something happened as expected.

FAQs

How can I use "we all expected" in a sentence?

You can use "we all expected" to indicate a shared anticipation or belief among a group of people. For example, "We all expected the project to be challenging, but the results exceeded our expectations."

What are some alternatives to "we all expected"?

Alternatives include "everyone anticipated", "it was generally assumed", or "it was widely believed", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to use "we all expected" in formal writing?

Yes, "we all expected" is generally acceptable in formal writing, especially when referring to a shared expectation within a specific group. However, consider using more formal alternatives like "it was the common expectation" for heightened formality.

What's the difference between "we all expected" and "I expected"?

"We all expected" indicates a shared expectation among a group, while "I expected" refers to a personal expectation. Using "we all expected" implies a consensus or shared understanding that may not exist when using "I expected".