we were establishing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were establishing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing an ongoing action in the past related to creating or setting up something. Example: "During the meeting, we were establishing the new protocols for the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

When we began working on Parque Pumalin, rumours flew that we were establishing a nuclear waste site for the United States or, oddly for Episcopalians which we both are, setting up a Jewish state.

The Guardian

"What we were establishing was a renewed access to a huge corpus of material that was essentially lost in the bowels of a few great libraries," said Richard Sarnoff, former chairman of the Association of American Publishers and co-chairman of the American unit of Bertelsmann, the parent company of Random House.

The New York Times - Tech

A Scottish government spokeswoman said: "Recent cases have demonstrated that the existing legislation and current industry practice is falling short of what the public deserves, which is why we announced that we were establishing an independent commission to examine the policies and practices in place for handling ashes and cremated remains.

BBC

In our previous studies, we were establishing linkages that show how arsenic affects the innate immune response through its effects on Cftr function.

BioData Mining

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The playbook isn't new, we've been through it at the hands of various regimes since we were established in 1996.

The Guardian - Opinion

We were established in 2006 by the governments of Brazil, Chile, France, Norway and the United Kingdom, but we are now supported by an expanding membership, including organisations from the global south.

The Guardian

We were established in the 1930s to provide affordable housing in Shoreditch, which at that time was a high value area because of the commercial furniture-making interests.

The Guardian - Money

"We've had reports for about five years, since we were established," said Mr Patel.

BBC

We lived in a great neighborhood, we were established in our careers and we had individually attended enough Margarita Parties to satisfy a lifetime quota of tequila.

Huffington Post

"We're establishing the boundaries".

The New York Times

"First, we're establishing common ground and a new terminology.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context: This phrase indicates an action in progress. Ensure the surrounding sentences support this ongoing sense.

Common error

Avoid using "we were establishing" when the action is completed. Use "we established" instead to indicate that the establishment is finished. For example, use "We established the new policy last year", not "We were establishing the new policy last year" if the policy is already in place.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were establishing" functions as a verb phrase indicating a past continuous action. It signifies that the subject ("we") was in the process of creating, founding, or setting up something at a specific time in the past. As shown in the Ludwig examples, this includes establishing a commission, linkages, or boundaries.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "we were establishing" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe an ongoing action of creating or setting up something in the past. According to Ludwig, while grammatically sound, the phrase is relatively rare in occurrence. Predominantly found in news and media contexts and also within scientific and business sources, it functions to communicate ongoing actions in the past. Consider alternatives like "we were setting up" or "we were creating" for nuanced variations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were setting up

Focuses on the act of arranging or preparing something for use.

we were creating

Emphasizes the act of bringing something new into existence.

we were building

Highlights the gradual construction or development of something.

we were forming

Implies the initial stages of bringing something into being.

we were initiating

Focuses on starting or commencing a process or project.

we were instituting

Highlights the act of establishing a formal system or rule.

we were pioneering

Emphasizes being the first to develop or use something.

we were constructing

Similar to building, but may imply a more complex structure.

we were developing

Highlights gradual growth and advancement over time.

we were originating

Implies bringing something into existence for the first time.

FAQs

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

Use "we were establishing" to describe an ongoing process of creating or setting up something in the past. For example, "We were establishing a new branch in Asia last quarter".

What are some alternatives to "we were establishing"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "we were setting up", "we were creating", or "we were building".

What's the difference between "we were establishing" and "we established"?

"We were establishing" describes an action in progress in the past, while "we established" indicates a completed action. For instance, "we were establishing" suggests the process was ongoing, whereas "we established" means the process is finished.

Is it correct to say "we are establishing" instead of "we were establishing"?

The choice depends on the timeframe. "We are establishing" indicates a present, ongoing action, while "we were establishing" indicates an action that was in progress in the past. Use the tense that accurately reflects when the action took place.