we were authorized

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were authorized" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when indicating that permission or approval was granted to a group or individuals to perform a specific action. Example: "After a thorough review, we were authorized to proceed with the project as planned."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

We were authorized to investigate and report and recommend action on all these subjects.

Cornell University

No one was subjected to enhanced interrogation for anywhere near the thirty days maximum we were authorized to use.

The New Yorker

We were authorized to do whatever we want and the orders came directly from the leader, from Bashar (al-Assad).

The New York Times

With that problem in mind, Mr. Demario said, "We carefully deliberated about what we were authorized to do under the statute" to reduce ambiguity.

The New York Times

They ignored or didn't understand our warnings to stop, and according to the military's "escalation of force" guidelines, we were authorized to shoot them in self-defense.

The Washington Post

"We had initially believed we were authorized to use that picture," Andrew Jensen, the marketing director of One on One, said in an e-mail message.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

As guests we are authorized not to notice.

The New Yorker

Store announced that it was having a sale and "We are authorized to accept relief checks.

The New Yorker

"It is our understanding by our legal counsel that we are authorized to sail," he said last night.

The New York Times

Alexander Marquardt (@MarquardtA) "We're authorized to use our weapons if our servicemen are endangered," Yevpatoriya base cmmdr Col. Andrey Matvienko tells @ABC.

The Guardian

"Work requiring OPM oversight must be suspended until we are authorized to continue operations," said an agency memorandum issued shortly before this record-setting nonsense began.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Be specific about the actions that "we" were authorized to perform, avoiding vague or overly broad statements.

Common error

Avoid using "we were authorized" without specifying who granted the authorization or the limits of that authorization. Without this context, the statement lacks credibility and may be misleading.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were authorized" functions as a declarative statement indicating that permission or approval was granted to a group ('we') to perform a specific action. Ludwig AI shows numerous examples where this phrase introduces the actions that were officially sanctioned.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we were authorized" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate that permission or approval has been granted to a group to perform a specific action. According to Ludwig AI, it's particularly frequent in news, science, and academic contexts, reflecting its use in formally justifying actions or decisions. When using this phrase, it's best to specify the source and scope of the authorization to ensure clarity and credibility. Alternatives such as "we had permission" or "we were empowered" can be used to convey similar meanings with slight nuances. Ludwig's analysis confirms the phrase's validity and provides a range of examples to guide its effective use.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we had permission

Replaces "authorized" with a more direct term indicating consent.

we were given the go-ahead

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey approval to proceed.

we were empowered

Suggests a greater degree of agency and capability.

we were sanctioned

Implies official approval, often by a governing body.

we were licensed

Indicates formal permission, typically for a specific activity.

we were cleared

Suggests overcoming obstacles or gaining necessary clearances.

we were entitled

Indicates a right or eligibility to do something.

we were delegated

Implies that authority or responsibility was passed on to us.

we were commissioned

Suggests being formally tasked to carry out a specific project or duty.

we were mandated

Emphasizes that an action was required by law or regulation.

FAQs

What does "we were authorized" mean?

The phrase "we were authorized" indicates that a group or individuals received official permission or approval to carry out a specific action or task.

How can I use "we were authorized" in a sentence?

You can use it to explain that you or your team had the green light to proceed: "After the review, "we were authorized" to begin the project".

What can I say instead of "we were authorized"?

You can use alternatives like "we had permission", "we were given the go-ahead", or "we were empowered" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "we were authorized" or "we had permission"?

Both "we were authorized" and "we had permission" are correct, but "we were authorized" often implies a more formal or official approval process.