we were choosing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were choosing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action that was happening in the past, specifically the act of making a selection or decision among options. Example: "During the meeting, we were choosing the best candidate for the job."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

Vivid characters drew us back to novels as we were choosing.

The Guardian - Books

Yet the material we were choosing -- glass -- by definition, had no sense of direction.

The New York Times - Science

I found we were choosing personifications of Britain based on rather different physical pursuits.

The New York Times

We made that choice in 2008 without knowing that it was anti-Americanism we were choosing.

The New York Times

"I don't know, maybe they thought we were choosing targets or something," Mr. Verma said yesterday in an interview at his hotel in New Jersey.

The New York Times

You wouldn't tolerate that if we were choosing who should go first in a game of pocket billiards, but in medicine, it's accepted as the norm.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

"I think we were chosen to be 'pataphysicians before I knew what it was.

The Guardian - Music

We were chosen because of the ability to close all-cash and close quickly.

The New York Times

No; wait a minute, we were chosen.

Huffington Post

On the Internet, we were chosen, enviable, fabulous.

Vice

We have no recollection of what we were chosen for.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we were choosing" to describe a collective decision process, highlighting the involvement of multiple people in the selection. For example, "As a team, we were choosing the best strategy for the project."

Common error

Avoid using the present continuous tense "we are choosing" when describing a selection process that occurred entirely in the past. Instead, use "we were choosing" to accurately reflect the past action. For example, avoid saying "Yesterday, we are choosing the new team members"; instead, say "Yesterday, we were choosing the new team members".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were choosing" functions as a verb phrase indicating a continuous action in the past. It describes a process of selection or decision-making that was ongoing at a specific time. As evidenced by Ludwig, this construction is widely used across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

28%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we were choosing" is a grammatically sound and commonly used verb phrase that describes an ongoing process of selection or decision-making in the past. Ludwig's analysis of numerous real-world examples confirms its wide applicability across diverse contexts such as news, science, and academic writing. While alternatives like "we selected" or "we opted for" exist, "we were choosing" specifically emphasizes the active and continuous nature of the past selection process. Remember to use it to denote a past action and avoid confusion with the present continuous form. Using "we were choosing" correctly will enhance the clarity and precision of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we selected

Uses a synonym of 'choosing' for a more concise expression.

we opted for

Indicates a specific decision was made in favor of something.

we picked

Similar to choosing but can imply a more casual selection.

we decided on

Emphasizes the decision-making aspect.

we went with

A more informal way to express the selection.

we were deciding

Focuses on the ongoing process of deciding.

we were settling on

Suggests a decision is nearing finalization.

we gravitated towards

Indicates a natural inclination towards something.

we favored

Highlights a preference in the selection process.

we designated

Implies a more formal or official selection.

FAQs

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

"We were choosing" is used to describe a selection process that was happening in the past. For example, "We were choosing the location for our next meeting when the fire alarm went off."

What's the difference between "we were choosing" and "we chose"?

"We were choosing" describes an ongoing process of selection in the past, while "we chose" indicates a completed action. For instance, "We were choosing the colors for the website" suggests a process in progress, whereas "We chose the colors for the website" means the selection is finished.

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

Alternatives include "we were selecting", "we were deciding on", or "we were picking" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "we are choosing" instead of "we were choosing"?

"We are choosing" is in the present continuous tense, indicating a current selection process. "We were choosing" refers to a selection process that occurred in the past. Using the correct tense ensures clarity and accuracy.