we applied to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we applied to" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to talk about a specific action of applying for something, such as a job, school, or program. Example: "We applied to five different universities in hopes of being accepted into a good program.".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We applied to buy it, but the city rejected our idea," said Stevens.

The Guardian

It was through them that we applied to get green cards.

The Guardian

Even with all of our preparation, two of the four schools we applied to rejected Siri.

The Washington Post

Laura Joseph, 41 from Bristol We applied to our three local state schools – they are all good.

The Guardian - Opinion

But when he got out we moved to Egypt and, eventually, we applied to Britain for political asylum".

The Guardian - Sport

More importantly, all the logic we applied to compute our results were hidden as formulae in cells.

The Guardian

"We applied to a feeder comprehensive, but I never take anything for granted and so didn't with this.

The Guardian

She says: "I didn't know about using the funding in that way when we applied to the school.

The Guardian - Money

"More than 20 times we applied to the Ministry of Refugees for help, but nobody cares," said Mr. Khan.

The New York Times

We applied to take our case to the Danish supreme court, but last week our application was turned down.

The Guardian

SRV is derived from Quadratic Vote Buying (QVB), a mechanism developed by Weyl and which we applied to corporate governance.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "we applied to", ensure the context clearly indicates what you applied for (e.g., "We applied to the university" is better than "We applied to.")

Common error

Avoid using "we applied to" without specifying the object of the application. For instance, instead of saying "We applied to get funding", specify "We applied to the grant program to get funding".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we applied to" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of submitting a formal request to an entity, institution, or program. Ludwig examples show it used in contexts like applying to schools, jobs, or funding organizations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

25%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

15%

Reference

5%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we applied to" is a very common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe the act of formally submitting a request or application to an entity such as a school, organization, or program. As Ludwig AI has confirmed, the phrase is widely used across various contexts, including news, science, academia, and business. While generally appropriate for neutral to formal situations, it is best practice to clearly specify what entity the application was made to, for clarity. Common alternatives include "we submitted an application for" and "we sought". Be careful to use "we applied for" to indicate what thing you applied to receive, like a "scholarship".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we submitted an application for

This alternative emphasizes the action of submitting a formal request.

we put in for

This is a more informal way of saying "we applied to".

we requested

This alternative focuses on the formal request made.

we sought

This alternative highlights the act of seeking or pursuing something.

we registered for

Specifically refers to the act of registering for something.

we tendered for

This alternative is often used in a business or governmental setting when bidding for contracts.

we enrolled in

This is typically used in the context of courses or programs.

we bid for

Similar to 'tendered for', but slightly less formal.

we appealed to

Highlights making a plea or request to an authority.

we approached

Focuses on the act of approaching a specific organization or entity.

FAQs

How can I use "we applied to" in a sentence?

Use "we applied to" when you are referring to a formal submission for something, such as a job, school, or grant. For example: "We applied to several universities" or "We applied to a grant program for funding".

What are some alternatives to "we applied to"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "we submitted an application for", "we sought", or "we requested".

Is it correct to say "we applied at" instead of "we applied to"?

While "we applied at" can be used when referring to a specific place (e.g., "We applied at the local store"), "we applied to" is generally preferred when referring to an institution, program, or organization (e.g., "We applied to Harvard University").

What's the difference between "we applied to" and "we applied for"?

"We applied to" generally refers to the entity or institution to which the application was made (e.g., "We applied to the university"), whereas "we applied for" refers to the specific thing being applied for (e.g., "We applied for a scholarship").