we could always

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we could always" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate an option for a course of action, or to express hope for a different situation. For example: "We could always buy the tickets online, if the box office is sold out."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

At least "we" could always add more butter.

The New Yorker

We could always get takeout.

The New Yorker

"We could always settle".

The New York Times

"It's something we could always revisit.

The New York Times - Sports

"We could always regift it".

The New Yorker

"I guess we could always do more.

The New York Times

Well, we could always return next year.

The Guardian - Travel

No problem — we could always come back.

The Guardian - Travel

We could always be ourselves the whole time.

The New York Times

And, if all else fails, we could always eat it.

Independent

Or, we could always put up a statue.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "we could always" with a conditional clause to make the suggestion more palatable. Example: "If the weather turns bad, we could always go to the museum."

Common error

Avoid overuse of "we could always" in writing. Too many instances can make your suggestions seem repetitive or lacking in creativity. Diversify your language by incorporating a broader range of phrases and alternatives to keep your writing dynamic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we could always" functions as a suggestion or expression of an alternative possibility. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s grammatically correct. The phrase often appears when the initial plan is not feasible or when brainstorming for solutions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Travel

15%

Lifestyle

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we could always" is a common and grammatically sound way to introduce alternative suggestions or possibilities. Ludwig AI indicates its correctness and usability. Predominantly found in news and media, travel and lifestyle contexts, its tone is generally informal but adaptable. When writing, use it to foster flexibility and problem-solving, but avoid overusing it. As suggested by Ludwig, consider diversifying your language for more dynamic suggestions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

We can consider

Focuses on the act of thinking about or evaluating something as a possibility. Less casual than "we could always".

We might think about

Suggests a less definite option; more tentative than "we could always".

Let's not rule out

Suggests keeping an alternative open for future consideration. It's a bit stronger than "we could always".

We may want to try

Introduces an experimental approach or a trial solution. "We could always" is broader in application.

We can look at

Highlights the act of inspecting a solution rather than a definite plan.

An option is

Presents a single alternative as a viable selection, devoid of the collaborative tone in "we could always".

There's the possibility of

Points out a chance that something can happen, more observational than "we could always".

It's possible to

Highlights the feasibility of an action without committing to it. More distant than "we could always".

We have the option of

Emphasizes the availability of a choice. More formal and less spontaneous than "we could always".

We retain the choice to

Presents a higher-level consideration of all options.

FAQs

How to use "we could always" in a sentence?

Use "we could always" to suggest an alternative option, often when the primary plan is not working. For example: "If the restaurant is full, "we could always order takeout"."

What can I say instead of "we could always"?

You can use alternatives like "we can consider", "we might think about", or "an option is" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "we could always"?

It's appropriate when suggesting an alternative, especially when the original plan encounters a problem or when brainstorming solutions. It implies a fallback option.

Is "we could always" formal or informal?

"We could always" is generally considered informal and is best used in casual conversations or informal writing. In formal contexts, consider more structured phrases like "another possibility is" or "alternatively, we might consider".