we planned to

USAGE SUMMARY

'we planned to' is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
This can be used when you are describing a plan that was previously discussed. For example, "We planned to have a picnic in the park, but the rain changed our plans."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I mean, where we planned to land.

The New Yorker

"We planned to be together...

The New York Times - Magazine

Then we planned to get more specific".

The New York Times

We planned to have dinner beforehand.

The New York Times

Originally we planned to use a commercial multiplexer, ADG904.

Cornell University

We planned to live together for one year.

The New York Times

We planned to attack them with our running game".

The New York Times - Sports

"We planned to have a 20-minute meeting," he said.

The New York Times

We planned to take advantage of this – and it worked.

The Guardian - Sport

We planned to run the story on The Guardian.

The Guardian - Opinion

"We planned to do it," Mr. Barak said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we planned to" when you want to describe a specific intention or arrangement that was made in the past. It's appropriate for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "we planned to" if the plan is currently in progress or ongoing. Use "we are planning to" or "we plan to" for present or future intentions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we planned to" serves as a declarative statement indicating a previously formed intention or arrangement. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its use in various contexts to express actions that were scheduled or intended.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

32%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we planned to" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe past intentions or arrangements. Ludwig's analysis confirms its widespread usage across diverse contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Academia. The phrase is versatile and suitable for both formal and informal communication, making it a valuable tool in expressing prior intentions or schedules. The Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we intended to

Replaces "planned" with "intended", emphasizing the purpose or aim.

we had planned to

Adds "had" to emphasize the completion of the planning stage before another event.

we were going to

Uses a more conversational structure to express a past intention.

we aimed to

Focuses on the goal or objective that was set.

we set out to

Highlights the initiation and purpose of the planned action.

it was our plan to

Changes the sentence structure to emphasize the plan itself.

our intention was to

Formalizes the expression by using "intention" instead of "plan".

we scheduled to

Highlights that the action was put on a schedule and planned.

we made arrangements to

Emphasizes the preparatory steps taken for the planned action.

we envisioned

Replaces "planned to" with a word that refers to imagining and planning something for the future.

FAQs

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

"We planned to" is used to describe an action that was intended or scheduled in the past. For example, "We planned to visit the museum, but it was closed".

What are some alternatives to "we planned to"?

Alternatives include "we intended to", "we were going to", or "it was our plan to" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "we had planned to" instead of "we planned to"?

Both are correct, but "we had planned to" emphasizes that the planning occurred before another event or change of plans. It adds a sense of completion to the planning phase.

What's the difference between "we planned to" and "we are planning to"?

"We planned to" refers to a past intention or arrangement, while "we are planning to" indicates a current or future intention. The first is in the past tense, and the second is in the present continuous tense.