we were departing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were departing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a group of people was in the process of leaving a place at a specific time in the past. Example: "As the clock struck midnight, we were departing from the venue, ready to head home after a long night of celebration."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"I never felt affiliated with [strictly] instrumental music, oddly enough," says Cameron. "It didn't feel like we were departing from a genre or a scene [by adding vocals].

The Guardian - Music

The next day, as we were departing the hotel, my mother said, only half-jokingly: "Wouldn't it be nice if you got married here?

The New York Times - Travel

And just a second prior to the two-minute warning, it hit me: We were departing the era of cautious optimism and entering a new era of unpredictable, untested American carnage.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

We're departing aesthetically from the film but it's very true to the fundamental story and we're delving into the psychology of Dorothy.

The Guardian

As Jim is one of the most prominent members of the climate community, and has been doing this for so long, we are surprised that some journalists and scientists think we are departing from the current tradition.

The New York Times

He wrote: "We're departing without the guy....Delta flight attendant just walked by, tapped the... lady [who had alerted flight attendants] on the shoulder and said 'thank you'".

Independent

We always know when we are departing from the absolute truth, and of course no one knows the dialogue, so what you get of course is an imaginative interpretation.

The Guardian

In an interview with Billboard, Lacey said that although Déjà Entendu does offer a different sound, the album "doesn't seem like we're departing from anything, really.

Wikipedia

The refined nature of these stories is so unusual, so remarkable, that we're departing from Recommended Reading's normal publication schedule.

Huffington Post

In the latest news, however, U.S. military commander in Afghanistan, U.S. Marine Corps General John Allen said that "while some folks might hear that we're departing in 2014... we're actually going to be here for a long time".

Huffington Post

We asked as they were departing whether, with a new American President taking office, they anticipated any consequential change in Chinese-American relations.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we were departing" to describe a group's action of leaving a place, especially when emphasizing a specific moment in the past. For instance: "As the sun set, we were departing from the campsite, filled with memories of our adventure."

Common error

Avoid using "we were departed" when you mean "we were departing". "Departed" means someone has already left and is no longer present, whereas "departing" indicates the action of leaving is in progress.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were departing" functions as a verb phrase in the past continuous tense. It describes an action (departing) that was in progress at a specific time in the past, as Ludwig examples show.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

12%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Academia

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "we were departing" is a grammatically correct and usable verb phrase in the past continuous tense, employed to describe the act of leaving at a specific moment in the past. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness of this phrase. While "we were leaving" serves as a common alternative, "we were departing" adds a slightly more formal tone. It's commonly found in news and media contexts, providing a clear and concise way to narrate past events. To avoid common errors, remember that "departing" indicates an ongoing action, while "departed" signifies a completed action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were leaving

Replaces "departing" with a more common synonym, slightly less formal.

we were setting off

Emphasizes the beginning of a journey or trip.

we were heading out

Informal way to express leaving a place.

we were on our way

Highlights the progress of leaving and moving towards a destination.

we were starting out

Focuses on the initiation of a departure or venture.

we commenced our departure

More formal and emphasizes the official beginning of leaving.

we initiated our exit

Highlights the beginning of a departure or venture, more formal.

we began to leave

Simple and direct alternative, emphasizing the action of leaving.

we were in the process of leaving

More descriptive and emphasizes the ongoing action of leaving.

we were about to leave

Indicates an imminent departure.

FAQs

What does "we were departing" mean?

The phrase "we were departing" means that a group of people was in the process of leaving a particular place at a specific time in the past. It indicates the action of leaving was ongoing.

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

You can use alternatives like "we were leaving", "we were setting off", or "we were heading out" depending on the context.

Is "we were departing" grammatically correct?

Yes, "we were departing" is grammatically correct. It follows the standard past continuous tense structure, indicating an action in progress at a specific time in the past.

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

You can use "we were departing" to describe the action of leaving in a narrative context. For example: "As the clock struck midnight, "we were departing" from the venue, ready to head home after a long night of celebration."