we were billed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were billed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to receiving a charge or invoice for goods or services. Example: "After our stay at the hotel, we were billed for the additional room service we ordered."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

(On the second visit, we were billed for a flight of martinis we hadn't ordered).

The New York Times

We were billed for that surgery, happily obliging to bring this baby home, healthy, alive, happy, our proof.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"There had been a newspaper article about a patient that was, I believe, murdered in one of our facilities," he stated, "and there was a lot of adverse publicity regarding the fact that we were billing for this".

The New York Times

A metered Internet would mean that we are billed depending on our usage.

Huffington Post

"We're billing this one now as the game of this century," Rodgers said.

The New York Times - Sports

"We're billing the LXD as sort of a timeless group, a Justice League of dance," said the boyish Mr. Chu, dressed in a G-Star jacket and an "LXD" baseball cap, in a recent interview in New York.

The New York Times - Arts

(Full disclosure: When the New America Foundation moves its offices in D.C., next week, Foreign Policy will become our tenants, but I hasten to add, in the spirit of nonprofit-dom, that we are billing them at cost).

The New Yorker

Essentially, we're billing a printing platform that could print bio-materials, which could be things like printing live cells on the surface.

Vice

"We're billing this as the nutrition label for your conscience," Matthew Colbert, a former political operative and founder of app developer SpendConsciously, told The Huffington Post on Thursday.

Huffington Post

We ordered what were billed as small cones, which turned out to be three enormous scoops.

The New York Times - Arts

"I believed that any work done on the chalet we'd be billed for, and we'd pay it," she said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we were billed" when you want to clearly state that your group or organization received a bill for services or products. Be specific about what the bill was for to provide context.

Common error

Avoid using "we were build" instead of "we were billed". "Billed" refers to receiving a bill, while "build" means to construct something. Double-check your spelling to ensure clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were billed" functions as a passive construction indicating that the subject (we) received a bill for services or products. It's a statement of fact about a financial transaction. As Ludwig indicates, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "we were billed" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate the receipt of a bill for services or products. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability in various contexts. Predominantly found in news and media, it carries a neutral tone suitable for both formal and informal settings. When expressing similar concepts, alternatives like "we were charged" or "we received an invoice" offer subtle variations in emphasis. Remember to maintain accuracy by avoiding misspellings such as "build" instead of "billed". In summary, "we were billed" is a reliable and clear way to convey that a bill has been received.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were charged

Uses "charged" instead of "billed", emphasizing the action of applying a cost.

we received an invoice

Replaces "billed" with "received an invoice", focusing on the formal document received.

we were presented with a bill

Emphasizes the act of receiving a bill, adding a slight nuance of formality.

a bill was issued to us

Focuses on the issuance of the bill by the provider.

an invoice was sent to us

Shifts the focus to the sender and the action of sending the invoice.

we were assessed a fee

More specific to fees, implying an official evaluation or determination of the amount due.

we incurred a charge

Highlights the act of accruing the expense.

we had to pay

Simplifies the phrase to the obligation of payment.

we were debited

Specifically refers to money being taken directly from an account.

we owe money for

Highlights the debt or obligation incurred.

FAQs

What does "we were billed" mean?

The phrase "we were billed" means that a bill or invoice was issued to us, indicating that we owe money for goods or services received.

Is it correct to say "we were billed"?

Yes, "we were billed" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English. It's a standard way to indicate that you received a bill.

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

You can use alternatives like "we were charged", "we received an invoice", or "we were presented with a bill" depending on the context.

What is the difference between "we were billed" and "we received a bill"?

The phrases "we were billed" and "we received a bill" are very similar in meaning. "We were billed" focuses on the action of billing, while "we received a bill" focuses on the act of receiving the document. They are often interchangeable.