we are late

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "We are late" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to explain why you are arriving somewhere later than expected. For example, you could say: "We apologize for being late. We got stuck in traffic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

"Sorry We're Late!" Yes, that Pride sign is right: We are late.

Huffington Post

"We recognize we are late on this," Mr. Kagame said.

The New York Times

I have to take the decision because we are late.

The Guardian - Sport

"We are late to it," a spokesman for Ford of Europe, Niel Golightly, said.

The New York Times

Today we are late because we were at some stage behind a slower train.

The New York Times

We realize we are late, and America has regained the torch of a moral revolution".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

We're late already".

The New Yorker

We're late!

The New Yorker

We were late, though.

Independent

Come on we're late.

The New Yorker

We're late adopters.

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "we are late" in professional communication, follow up with a brief explanation and apology to maintain politeness and transparency.

Common error

Instead of simply saying "we are late", provide a specific reason for the delay and an estimated time of arrival to manage expectations effectively.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we are late" functions as a declarative statement indicating that the speaker and others are not on time. It expresses a current state of being behind schedule, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. The phrase is used to convey information about a delay or tardiness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Formal & Business

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "we are late" is a common and grammatically correct way to express tardiness. As Ludwig AI confirms, it serves to inform others of a delay and often implies an apology. The phrase is versatile, fitting into various contexts, including news, business, and academic settings, though it's crucial to provide context and maintain politeness, especially in formal settings. Alternatives like "we are delayed" or "we are running late" can be used for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we are running late

A slight variation, emphasizing the act of running behind.

we are delayed

Highlights the fact of being held up or slowed down.

we are behind schedule

Indicates a state of not meeting the planned schedule.

we're running behind schedule

Emphasizes being behind a planned timeline.

we're behind time

Indicates a lack of punctuality relative to a specific deadline.

we're not on time

A more general expression for not being punctual.

we didn't make it on time

Expresses failure to arrive at the expected time.

we have missed the deadline

Focuses on failing to meet a specific deadline.

we're overdue

Suggests exceeding an expected or agreed-upon time.

we lagged behind

Illustrates the slow in movement to the expected time

FAQs

What can I say instead of "we are late"?

You can use alternatives like "we are delayed", "we are running late", or "we are behind schedule" depending on the context.

How to use "we are late" in a sentence?

You can use "we are late" to explain tardiness, such as "We are late because of traffic" or "We are late for the meeting".

Which is correct, "we are late" or "we were late"?

"We are late" indicates a current state of tardiness, while "we were late" refers to a past instance of being late. The choice depends on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "we are late" in a formal email?

Yes, but it's better to provide a brief explanation and apology, such as "We are late due to unforeseen circumstances and apologize for any inconvenience."