we were considering

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were considering" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing thoughts or deliberations about a particular idea or option in the past. Example: "During our last meeting, we were considering various strategies to improve our marketing efforts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We were considering this two days ago, actually.

The New York Times - Sports

"Every vendor we were considering said they got a call that someone else was interested".

The New York Times - Travel

"You're talking about hundreds of things we were considering," he said.

The New Yorker

"We were considering flipping a coin but couldn't do that," the Justice admitted.

The New Yorker

After less than two months of marriage, we were considering divorce.

The Washington Post

"Even people close to us didn't really understand what we were considering," Tammy said.

The New York Times - Sports

"That was a concern when we were considering prices for next year".

The Guardian

"Today it would be a main item if we were considering buying two more".

The Economist

Whenever we told someone that we were considering the possibility, we'd get a sombre look and a long pause.

The New Yorker

I remember that we were considering whether or not Rosita, our twice-monthly housekeeper, should clean the room.

The New York Times - Magazine

@ScottMorrisonMP announced that we were considering moving the embassy - I think there are very strong arguments for it.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To add emphasis, consider pairing it with adverbs such as "seriously", "actively", or "briefly" to further nuance the extent of consideration.

Common error

Avoid using the bare verb 'consider' when you need the continuous form 'considering' to describe an ongoing process in the past. "We consider the options" implies a general habit, while "we were considering the options" refers to a specific period of deliberation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were considering" functions as a verb phrase, specifically the past continuous tense of the verb "consider". It indicates an ongoing action of deliberation or evaluation in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used to describe the process of weighing options or contemplating possibilities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

15%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we were considering" is a grammatically correct and frequently used verb phrase that denotes an ongoing process of deliberation or evaluation in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely accepted and suitable for various contexts, ranging from news reports to academic discussions. It's important to use the continuous form "considering" to accurately portray this sense of ongoing deliberation, distinguishing it from a completed action. The phrase is particularly common in news and media and academia, making it a valuable tool for expressing past considerations in both formal and informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we contemplated

Replaces "were considering" with a more formal synonym, emphasizing deep thought.

we were thinking about

Uses a more common and less formal synonym for "considering".

we entertained the idea of

Indicates that the idea was only briefly considered.

we were weighing up

Highlights the process of balancing different options.

we had under consideration

A more formal and passive way of saying "we were considering".

we were exploring the possibility of

Emphasizes investigation and discovery.

we were giving thought to

Indicates a careful and deliberate process.

we were mulling over

Suggests a prolonged and thoughtful deliberation.

we had in mind

Focuses on an idea that was present in thought.

we envisioned

Replaces "were considering" with a term that focuses on imagining a future scenario.

FAQs

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

You can use alternatives like "we contemplated", "we were thinking about", or "we entertained the idea of" depending on the context.

How do I use "we were considering" in a sentence?

Use "we were considering" to indicate that a group was in the process of evaluating options or ideas in the past, for example: "We were considering several candidates for the position before making our final decision."

What's the difference between "we were considering" and "we considered"?

"We were considering" implies an ongoing process of evaluation in the past, while "we considered" suggests a completed action of evaluating something at a specific point in the past.

Is "we had considered" the same as "we were considering"?

No, "we had considered" indicates that the consideration happened before another point in the past, whereas "we were considering" describes the process of considering during a specific period in the past.