we were chosen

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were chosen" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that a group of people has been selected for a specific purpose or role. Example: "After a thorough selection process, we were chosen to represent our school at the national competition."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 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

We were delighted when we were chosen to develop and manage a flagship extra care scheme for older people.

The Guardian

In 2012 we were chosen by Samsung to partner with them for the duration of the Olympic Games.

The Guardian

"We were chosen," said Mr. Plummer with a laugh, adding: "No, really, we have a feeling that the hotels picked us.

The New York Times

"We were chosen because we were meant to be calm, moral, not to lose our minds in the midst of trouble, to think, not to behave like an animal," Raz told me.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

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

The New York Times - Science

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

The Guardian - Books

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

The New York Times

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

The New York Times

Thus, for further experiments we were choosing slope steepness 0.25, which seems a good compromise.

Biological Cybernetics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Vary your sentence structure to include active voice counterparts for better flow. For example, instead of "we were chosen", consider "they chose us" to add dynamism and focus on the selector.

Common error

Avoid using "we were chosen by ourselves", as it creates a redundant and illogical statement. The passive voice already implies that someone or something else did the choosing, so adding "by ourselves" contradicts that implication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were chosen" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject (we) received the action of being selected. Ludwig AI shows this is often used to convey that a group was selected by an external entity for a specific purpose or role.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

19%

Formal & Business

19%

Less common in

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we were chosen" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that places emphasis on the selection of a group, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Its usage spans various contexts, from formal news reports to scientific publications, indicating a versatile applicability. When employing the phrase, consider the active voice counterpart, "they chose us", to dynamically frame the sentence. By understanding the function and the potential error of adding "by ourselves", writers can effectively use this phrase to convey selection and status with clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were selected

Uses a synonym for "chosen", maintaining the passive voice and meaning.

we have been chosen

Uses the present perfect tense, emphasizing the continuing relevance of the selection.

we were the ones chosen

Adds emphasis to the selection, highlighting the uniqueness of the group chosen.

we were picked

Employs a more informal synonym for "chosen", indicating a less formal selection process.

we were designated

Suggests a formal assignment or appointment to a specific role or task.

we were appointed

Implies a formal selection, often for an official position or duty.

we were preferred

Indicates a preference over other options, highlighting the positive aspect of being selected.

we were favored

Similar to "we were preferred", but may suggest a slight bias or advantage in the selection process.

the choice fell upon us

Rephrases the selection process to emphasize that the choice was made in their favor.

we earned the selection

Shifts focus to the effort and merit involved in being selected.

FAQs

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

Use "we were chosen" to indicate that a group of people has been selected for a specific purpose or role. For example: "After a thorough selection process, "we were chosen" to represent our school at the national competition."

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

You can use alternatives like "we were selected", "we were picked", or "we were designated" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "we were chosen" or "they chose us"?

The choice depends on the emphasis you want to make. "We were chosen" emphasizes the selection, while "they chose us" highlights the entity that made the selection. Both are grammatically correct.

What's the difference between "we were chosen" and "we were elected"?

"We were chosen" implies a selection process, while "we were elected" specifically means selected through a voting process. Use "we were elected" when the selection involved a vote.