we were described

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were described" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to how a group of people has been characterized or portrayed by someone else. Example: "In the report, we were described as a dedicated team committed to excellence."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

If it hadn't been for literature, maybe I would have remained unaware of the way we were described.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"Last year at Minecon we were described as the 'second tier of content', and that's really where we see ourselves.

The Guardian - Tech

"We were described in one newspaper as a 'rap outfit'," Prince says.

Independent

"I think we benefited from the fact that we never had a period in our lives when we were described as the 'total world killer.' So, no one ever had this expectation of us that it was like, the whole world's gonna change when we IPO [or] a year after we IPO.

TechCrunch

The three members of the delegation seeking to meet with the International Olympic Committee are Tom Tresser, Rhoda Whitehorse and Martin Macias, Jr. Here's how we were described in the press release from June 16.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

"Prior to the release of our work, we were describing multiple sclerosis lesions incorrectly," said Okuda.

TechCrunch

The 20/80 ratio we were describing referred to revenues from data firehose licensing versus data processing revenues for DataSift.

TechCrunch

My co-commentator Mark Bright and I could hardly believe what we were describing.

BBC

We were describing the world we saw, and we're now running into people that have other beliefs.

Vice

We're described as materialistic, politically disengaged, narcissistic and obsessed with technology.

The Guardian

In the U.S., we are described as a Chinese company, but in China, the focus is on our foreign business".

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "we were described", ensure the context clearly indicates who provided the description and what their perspective might be.

Common error

Avoid using "we were described" without specifying who did the describing. Vague statements can lead to confusion and weaken the impact of your message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were described" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject (the 'we') received a description from an unspecified agent. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a correct usage in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "we were described" is a grammatically sound passive construction used to report how a group has been characterized by an external source. As Ludwig AI confirms, the examples illustrate its use in various contexts, predominantly in news and media and science, where the characterization is often analyzed or critiqued. While not extremely frequent, its usage is consistent, making it an effective way to introduce an external perspective on a collective identity. Remember to ensure clarity by specifying who provided the description to avoid vagueness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were characterized

Synonymous; replaces "described" with "characterized", implying a specific set of traits.

we were portrayed

Replaces "described" with "portrayed", suggesting an artistic or representational depiction.

we were referred to as

Uses "referred to as" instead of "described", indicating a specific name or title given.

we were labeled

Replaces "described" with "labeled", suggesting a categorization or classification.

we were depicted

Uses "depicted" instead of "described", often implying a visual or narrative representation.

we were known as

Indicates a common name or reputation, rather than a specific description.

it was said we were

Shifts the focus to the act of saying, rather than the description itself.

we have been described

Uses the present perfect tense to emphasize the ongoing impact of the description.

descriptions of us included

Restructures the sentence to focus on the descriptions themselves.

we fell under the description of

Implies fitting into a pre-existing category or definition.

FAQs

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

Use "we were described" to refer to how a group has been characterized by someone else. For example, "In the article, we were described as innovative and forward-thinking."

What are some alternatives to "we were described"?

Alternatives include "we were characterized", "we were portrayed", or "we were referred to as" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use active or passive voice when describing how a group is perceived?

Using the active voice, such as "They described us as...", places emphasis on the describer. The passive voice, "we were described as...", emphasizes the group being described.

What's the difference between "we were described as" and "we were seen as"?

"We were described as" implies a formal or explicit description, while "we were seen as" suggests a perception or impression. The former is more factual, the latter, more subjective.