we were explained that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were explained that" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form would typically be "we were told that" or "we were informed that." Example: "During the meeting, we were told that the project deadline has been extended."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Formal & Business

Academia

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

We were explained that when they took Sashko from his family, he did not speak for about half a year at all.

Unicef

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

And so we think that's what's explaining that difference.

Duke University

We have been explained that this object in EDS and SEM analysis results in [19].

Journal of Theoretical and Applied Physics

Are there things that need to be explained that we could explain if we posited the existence of a soul, an immaterial object, above and beyond the body?

Yale University

"A lot of people at first were thinking we would be seen as if we were begging until it was explained that the money is there for residents' associations to apply for".

The Guardian

Without getting overly scientific, it's explained that when we're exposed to rudeness, our subconscious makes us act in ways that interpret both neutral and negative behaviors as rude, making us more inclined to behave rudely ourselves.

HuffPost

"We're explaining the trauma that's happening….

TechCrunch

"Day by day we are explaining to them that no one will hurt them and that we will treat the injured," said General Jurabek, a Soviet-trained officer.

The New York Times

The idea here is that we are explaining to the viewer that he should not take the news seriously".

The New York Times

And yet there we are explaining with complete authority that "No, you ARE either a thinker or a feeler".

The Guardian

We veterans should be explaining that service has many purposes.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you intend to convey that information was given to you, use the correct phrase: "we were told that" or "we were informed that".

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "we were explained that" because it's grammatically incorrect. Instead, opt for phrases like "we were told that" or "it was explained to us that" for correct passive voice usage.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were explained that" attempts to convey that an explanation was given. However, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI indicates that a more appropriate construction would be "we were told that" or "it was explained to us that".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we were explained that" is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI suggests using phrases like "we were told that" or "it was explained to us that" instead. Although examples exist in various contexts, including Formal & Business, News & Media, and Academia, the incorrect grammar negatively impacts its usability. Therefore, it's best to avoid this phrasing in formal writing. Instead, rely on more precise and grammatically sound alternatives for clarity and professionalism.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were informed that

Focuses on the act of being formally notified or told something.

we were told that

Emphasizes the simple act of receiving information from someone.

it was explained to us that

Shifts the sentence structure to emphasize the process of explanation.

we had it explained to us that

Rephrases the initial structure to include the auxiliary verb 'had'.

we understood that

Highlights the comprehension or understanding of a concept or fact.

we gathered that

Suggests inferring information from various sources or hints.

we learned that

Focuses on acquiring knowledge or new information.

we were made aware that

Highlights the act of becoming conscious or informed about something.

we were given to understand that

Implies a subtle or indirect communication of information.

clarification was provided that we

Rephrases the initial structure to clarify the information.

FAQs

What's a grammatically correct alternative to "we were explained that"?

The grammatically correct alternatives include phrases like "we were told that" or "it was explained to us that".

Is "we were explained that" considered proper English?

No, "we were explained that" is not considered proper English. The correct phrasing would be something like "we were informed that" or "it was explained to us that".

How can I rephrase "we were explained that" to sound more professional?

To sound more professional, replace "we were explained that" with phrases such as "we were advised that" or "we received an explanation that".

What's the difference between "we were explained that" and "we were told that"?

"We were explained that" is grammatically incorrect. "We were told that" is the correct phrase to use when you want to indicate that someone provided you with information.