we were contacted

USAGE SUMMARY

"we were contacted" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to a situation in which someone contacted you or someone else in your group in order to provide information or ask a question. For example, "We were contacted last week by a reporter who wanted to know more about our organization."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

"WE were contacted by a large number of developers who wanted to buy the site," Mr. Zwilling said.

The New York Times

We were contacted by Zahia [Dehar, model and fashion muse].

The Guardian - Arts

The Kheel Center became aware of her when we were contacted by a descendant.

Cornell University

We were contacted by ING looking to conclude deals for its client.

The New York Times

This article was commissioned after we were contacted via a You tell us thread.

The Guardian - Opinion

Before the opening, we were contacted by the museum's education department.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

"We are contacted by dozens of people each week.

Independent

Once we are contacted, it usually takes six weeks to make one of these things.

The New York Times

"If we are contacted, however, we will give them our full cooperation, as is our policy and practice," he said.

The New York Times

"Often we're contacted by individuals or family members asking for help," Bohs said.

Duke University

Oftentimes we are contacted and asked for our input.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the level of formality required. While "we were contacted" is generally neutral, alternatives like "we received communication" may be more suitable for formal settings.

Common error

Avoid overusing the passive voice. While "we were contacted" is correct, actively stating who contacted you (e.g., "The museum's education department contacted us") can make your writing more direct and engaging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were contacted" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject (we) received communication from an unspecified actor. Ludwig AI confirms this construction is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we were contacted" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to describe situations where communication was initiated with a group. Ludwig AI confirms its wide applicability across various contexts. While predominantly found in news and media, it also appears in academic and scientific writing. When using this phrase, consider the context and choose the active voice if greater clarity or emphasis is needed. Remember also that you can replace it with alternative expressions like "we received communication" for formal usage or "we heard from someone" for a more casual tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were reached out to

A more modern and slightly informal alternative, common in business contexts.

we received communication

Uses a more formal tone, emphasizing the receipt of communication.

someone got in touch with us

Emphasizes the initiator's action of making contact.

we were approached

Suggests someone initiated contact with a specific purpose.

we heard from someone

Implies a less formal interaction, focusing on the act of hearing from someone.

someone got ahold of us

A more colloquial way of saying someone managed to contact us.

we were alerted

Implies that the contact was to signal attention to something specific.

communication was established with us

Highlights the establishment of a connection, suitable for formal contexts.

we had correspondence

Implies an exchange of communication, often in written form.

we were informed

Focuses on receiving information, not necessarily direct contact.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "we were contacted" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "we received communication" or "communication was established with us".

What's a more casual alternative to "we were contacted"?

If you're aiming for a less formal tone, you could say "we heard from someone" or "someone got in touch with us".

Is it better to use active or passive voice when saying "we were contacted"?

While "we were contacted" is grammatically correct in the passive voice, using the active voice (e.g., "They contacted us") can often make your writing more direct and clear. Consider the context and choose the voice that best conveys your message.

When is it appropriate to use "we were contacted"?

It's appropriate when you want to emphasize that contact was initiated with you or your group, and the initiator is either unknown or less important than the fact of the contact itself. For example, "We were contacted by the police regarding the incident".