we became aware of

USAGE SUMMARY

"we became aware of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in any context to describe the state of being informed or realizing something. For example: "We became aware of the dangers of climate change after reading the scientific reports."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But then we became aware of our own language.

The New York Times - Arts

"We became aware of this situation, the extent of it, only in around 2010.

The Guardian - Business

"As soon as we became aware of the error it was corrected.

The Guardian

"We contacted Cancer Research UK as soon as we became aware of what was happening.

The Guardian

"The moment we became aware of the Cantor family we reached out to them".

The New York Times

As soon as we became aware of the inaccuracy we corrected the mistake.

The Guardian - Sport

"The first time we became aware of them as a force was with 'Iron Chef,' " Ms. Girard added.

The New York Times - Food

"We became aware of the movie and we didn't feel it was appropriate, so we communicated that to the network".

The New York Times

"If we became aware of any intimidation or violation of free expression, we would deal with that appropriately".

The New York Times

"The answer is, we are dealing with it now because this is when we became aware of it.

The New York Times

On the street, we became aware of what had caused the initial noise of crashing china and cutlery.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, "we became aware of" is often followed by "that", introducing a clause that explains what was realized. For example: "We became aware of that the project was behind schedule".

Common error

While grammatically correct, "we became aware of" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Consider using simpler alternatives like "we realized" or "we noticed" for a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "we became aware of" is to introduce a realization or understanding that a group has come to. It functions as a transitive verb phrase, taking an object that specifies what they became aware of. Ludwig provides numerous examples showing its usage across different contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

41%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we became aware of" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase for indicating a realization or understanding. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is usable in any written English context. Its prevalence in news and scientific articles suggests a neutral to professional tone, although simpler alternatives may be preferable in casual conversation. While generally correct, overuse in informal contexts should be avoided to maintain a natural tone. Several alternatives, such as ""we realized"" and ""it came to our attention"", offer similar meanings with varying degrees of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we realized

Replaces "became aware of" with a more concise verb.

we noticed

Focuses on the act of observing something.

we understood

Emphasizes comprehension rather than initial awareness.

we recognized

Highlights the identification of something previously unknown.

it came to our attention

Formal alternative, shifting focus from the subject to the information itself.

we discovered

Implies finding something out, often unexpectedly.

we learned

Highlights gaining knowledge about something.

we perceived

Emphasizes sensory or intuitive understanding.

we apprehended

Suggests grasping the significance of something.

we fathomed

Implies a deeper understanding after some consideration.

FAQs

What does "we became aware of" mean?

The phrase "we became aware of" signifies that a group of people (represented by "we") realized, noticed, or understood something. It implies a transition from a state of unknowing to a state of knowing.

How can I use "we became aware of" in a sentence?

You can use "we became aware of" to introduce information that was previously unknown to a group. For example, "We became aware of the budget deficit during the audit" or "We became aware of the risks involved in the project".

What can I say instead of "we became aware of"?

You can use alternatives like "we realized", "we noticed", or "we understood" depending on the context. The phrase "it came to our attention" is a formal alternative.

Is it correct to say "we become aware of" instead of "we became aware of"?

The phrase "we become aware of" is grammatically correct, however, is used to express a general or habitual action in the present, while "we became aware of" refers to a specific instance in the past. For example, "We become aware of new challenges as the project progresses", but "We became aware of the initial problem last week".