we were designated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were designated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a specific assignment or role that has been officially assigned to a group or individuals. Example: "After the meeting, we were designated as the team responsible for the new project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"We were designated as being the first up in line to meet the pope [John Paul II]..

The Guardian

You are doing quite a bit of work on Roosevelt Island. A. We were designated to build a new neighborhood at Roosevelt Island that we have named Riverwalk.

The New York Times

And the commercial side? A. Last summer we were designated to take over the retail corridor — 33 stores, 100,000 square feet — that had been poorly managed over decades by the state agency, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

If we accept – by silence or without questioning – that anything and everyone can be defined as "terrorist infrastructure", then we are designating all civilians in Gaza as being targets.

The Guardian - Opinion

They have windows and are large enough to be legal bedrooms, but Ms. de Fran?s team decided to sell them as offices: "We're designating them as home offices because that's appealing to our buyers," she said.

The New York Times

We're designating a select few pre-Series A companies to be a TC Top Pick.

TechCrunch

"We're designating Oleg Deripaska, who operates on behalf of the Russian government," the senior official told VICE News.

Vice

These enzymes have alternatively been considered atypical ChEs [18], [19] or atypical pseudo-cholinesterases (pseudo-ChEs) [17], [20]; we are designating them as atypical BChEs, as suggested by Whittaker [22].

Plosone

"We made sure there were designated smoking areas that were covered and had seating".

Huffington Post

We sequenced two genotypes that were designated as reference and two genotypes that were designated as alternate.

G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics

Some were designated saints.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "we were designated" with a clear statement of purpose to give your reader a better understanding of the intended outcome of that designation.

Common error

Avoid using "we were designated" in informal settings where simpler terms like "assigned" or "chosen" would be more appropriate. Overusing formal language can make your writing sound unnatural or pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were designated" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that a group ("we") received a specific assignment, role, or designation. Ludwig shows that this phrase appears in contexts where official appointments or assignments are discussed.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Wiki

7%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we were designated" is a grammatically sound passive voice construction used to describe the official assignment of a role or responsibility to a group. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is most commonly found in formal or official contexts. While it is a correct and usable phrase, remember that overly formal language may not be suitable for informal conversations. Consider variations like "we were appointed" or "we were assigned" for greater versatility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were appointed

Focuses more on the act of being formally selected for a role.

we were assigned

Emphasizes the act of being given a task or responsibility.

we were selected

Highlights the act of being chosen from a larger group.

we were chosen

Focuses on the act of choosing, without specific task implication.

we were tasked

Directly emphasizes the burden of responsibility given

we were authorized

Implies formal permission or power being granted to perform a specific function.

we were empowered

Suggests being given the means or ability to accomplish something.

we were commissioned

Suggests a formal request or order to produce something, often artistic or technical.

we were deputized

Specifies being appointed as a deputy or representative.

we were ordained

Implies a formal and often religious appointment.

FAQs

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

Use "we were designated" to indicate that a group was officially assigned a task, role, or responsibility. For example, "We were designated as the team responsible for handling customer complaints".

What are some alternatives to "we were designated"?

Alternatives include "we were appointed", "we were assigned", or "we were selected", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "designate"?

Whether to use active or passive voice depends on the context. The active voice (e.g., "They designated us") emphasizes the designator, while the passive voice ("We were designated") emphasizes the designated.

What's the difference between "we were designated" and "we were assigned"?

While similar, "we were designated" often implies a more formal or official assignment than "we were assigned", which can be used in both formal and informal contexts.