we were afraid of

USAGE SUMMARY

"we were afraid of" is correct and usable in written English.
For example, you might write, "We were afraid of the storm coming our way."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That's what we were afraid of.

The New York Times

We were afraid of him, no question.

The New Yorker

"We were afraid of them," he said.

The New Yorker

We were afraid of aftershocks.

The New York Times

We were afraid of a doomsday gap.

Princeton University

"We were afraid of everybody," Erina said.

The New York Times

We were afraid of our own fear".

The Guardian - Film

We were afraid of what would happen.

The New York Times

"We were afraid of fire," he said.

The New York Times

"We were afraid of air strikes," he said.

The Guardian

"We weren't afraid of failure; we were afraid of success.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "we were afraid of", ensure the object of your fear is clearly stated. Vague statements can lead to confusion.

Common error

Avoid using "afraid from"; the correct preposition to use with "afraid" is "of". It's grammatically incorrect to say "we were afraid from the dark". Instead, say "we were afraid of the dark".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were afraid of" functions as a statement expressing fear or apprehension. It typically introduces the object or situation causing the fear. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we were afraid of" is a common and grammatically sound way to express fear or apprehension. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms its correctness. As evidenced by the numerous examples, it is frequently used in news and media, as well as in academic and scientific writing. While the phrase is versatile, it's crucial to ensure the object of fear is clear. Remember to use "of" rather than "from" and consider alternative phrases like "we were concerned about" for more formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were concerned about

Replaces "afraid" with "concerned", implying a focus on potential negative outcomes.

we were uneasy about

Indicates a lack of comfort and slight anxiety.

we had apprehension about

Replaces "afraid" with "apprehension", suggesting a slightly more formal concern.

we were wary of

Employs "wary" to emphasize caution and suspicion.

we felt anxious regarding

Substitutes "afraid" with "anxious", highlighting the element of worry.

we had misgivings about

Expresses doubt and unease about something.

we dreaded

Uses "dreaded" for a stronger sense of fear and aversion.

we anticipated with trepidation

Highlights the anticipation of something negative with anxiety.

we shuddered at the thought of

Implies a strong, visceral reaction of fear.

we were in terror of

Conveys a high degree of fear and alarm.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "we were afraid of" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using alternatives such as "we had apprehension about" or "we were concerned about", depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "we were afraid of" and "we were scared of"?

While both phrases express fear, "we were afraid of" often implies a more reasoned or anticipated fear, whereas "we were scared of" can suggest a more immediate or instinctive reaction.

Is it incorrect to say "we were afraid from" instead of "we were afraid of"?

Yes, using "from" with "afraid" is grammatically incorrect. The correct preposition is "of", so you should always say "we were afraid of".

In what situations is it appropriate to use the phrase "we were afraid of"?

The phrase "we were afraid of" is appropriate in various situations where you want to express a sense of fear, concern, or apprehension about a potential outcome, person, or situation.