we were contacted by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were contacted by" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when indicating that someone reached out to you or your organization, typically in a formal or professional context. Example: "We were contacted by a potential client interested in our services."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 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

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

The New York Times

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

The New York Times

A TalkTalk spokeswoman said: "We can confirm we were contacted by someone claiming to be responsible and seeking payment".

The Guardian - Business

We were contacted by police in October 2006 and told some of our journalists' phones had been hacked.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

"We are contacted by dozens of people each week.

Independent

Every year at Money we are contacted by readers who have finally woken up to this fact.

The Guardian - Money

"Mostly when we're contacted by filmmakers they're looking for access to our equipment, our personnel and our installations.

Independent

"I'm fortunate to have a group of friends that live in my tower block and we always spread the word when we are contacted by these firms.

The Guardian - Money

"We're contacted by RE teachers to help when there's been anti-Jewish, -Muslim or -Christian sentiment," says Debbie Danon, the charity's education manager.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use this phrase when you want to emphasize that your company or organization received the initial communication, rather than initiating it.

Common error

While "we were contacted by" is grammatically correct, overuse of passive voice can make your writing sound weak. Consider restructuring the sentence to use active voice where appropriate, such as "[Name] contacted us" for a more direct and impactful statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were contacted by" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject (we) received communication initiated by someone else. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use. It's used to convey that the action of contacting was done to 'us'.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

14%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we were contacted by" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to indicate that an external party initiated communication. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It is most frequently found in news and media, as well as scientific contexts, maintaining a neutral to professional tone. When using this phrase, ensure clarity about who initiated the contact and why. While acceptable, consider using active voice constructions for more direct communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were reached out to by

It focuses on the action of someone extending communication to you, often proactively.

we were approached by

This phrase suggests someone took the initiative to start a conversation or propose something.

we were informed by

This alternative highlights the conveyance of information and is suitable for contexts where information transfer is key.

we were notified by

This suggests a more formal or official communication, often regarding important information or updates.

we received correspondence from

This alternative emphasizes the reception of written communication rather than any form of contact.

we were alerted by

This implies a warning or notice of something important, often related to a problem or opportunity.

we had a communication from

This emphasizes that a communicative exchange occurred, highlighting the reciprocal aspect.

we heard from

This phrase is more informal and general, suitable for less formal contexts.

we got in touch with us

This alternative is more casual and focuses on the initiation of contact.

we were telephoned by

This specifies the method of contact as a phone call, providing more detail.

FAQs

How to use "we were contacted by" in a sentence?

Use "we were contacted by" to indicate that someone initiated communication with your organization. For example, "We were contacted by a potential client interested in our services."

What can I say instead of "we were contacted by"?

You can use alternatives like "we received correspondence from", "we heard from", or "we were approached by" depending on the context.

Is "we were contacted by" formal or informal?

"We were contacted by" is generally considered neutral to formal, suitable for professional and official communications. For more casual settings, "we heard from" might be more appropriate.

What is the difference between "we were contacted by" and "we reached out to"?

"We were contacted by" indicates that someone initiated communication with you, while "we reached out to" means you initiated the communication. The former is passive, the latter is active.