we were forgetting

USAGE SUMMARY

"we were forgetting" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that someone (or a group of people) had begun to forget. For example: "We were forgetting how much fun we used to have together before the pandemic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Frum complained that the public commemoration of September 11 had been insufficient, that we were forgetting the atrocity of that day.

The Guardian - Opinion

In retrospect we were forgetting the fact that as bad as the Eastern Conference teams could be, they were still mostly facing other Eastern Conference teams and somebody had to win.

The Guardian - Sport

My dad went on multiple grocery store runs to make sure there were no ingredients we were forgetting; and my mother and grandfather stayed clear of the kitchen and argued about things like why my mother did not have a clean coffee pot or why my grandfather wanted dishes and real silverware rather than paper plates.

The New York Times

We were so focused on capturing memories on our cameras that we were forgetting to make any memories at all.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"Out here, we were forgotten.

The New York Times

I had forgotten how old we were, forgotten everything.

The Guardian - Books

We are forgetting who we work for".

The New York Times

We are forgetting our very identity.

The Guardian - Opinion

(And we know we're forgetting some great people).

The New York Times

We are forgetting that other people have feelings too.

The Guardian - Opinion

"But today is about forgetting the suffering, today we are forgetting these 12 years".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we were forgetting" to indicate a gradual or ongoing process of forgetting, rather than a completed action. For example, "We were forgetting the importance of regular exercise during the busy holiday season."

Common error

Avoid using "we were forgetting" when "we had forgotten" is more appropriate. "We were forgetting" implies an ongoing process, while "we had forgotten" indicates a completed action in the past that happened before something else. For example, if you want to say you did not remember the keys but now you do, you should say "we had forgotten the keys" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were forgetting" functions as a verb phrase expressing a past continuous action. It indicates that a group of people was in the process of forgetting something over a period of time. Ludwig examples show it used in contexts of neglecting memories or important details.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we were forgetting" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a past continuous action of forgetting. Ludwig's AI confirms its usability in written English. Although only a small amount of examples are available, the phrase is commonly used in "News & Media" contexts and can serve to highlight a lapse in memory or attention. To avoid confusion, writers should be mindful of the nuance between the continuous action of "we were forgetting" and the completed action of "we had forgotten". Alternatives like "we were neglecting" or "we were overlooking" can also be used, depending on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we had forgotten

Focuses on the completed action of forgetting, rather than the ongoing process.

we were neglecting

Emphasizes a lack of attention or care, leading to forgetting.

we were failing to remember

Highlights the inability to recall something.

we were losing sight of

Indicates a gradual loss of focus or awareness.

we were overlooking

Suggests a failure to notice or consider something important.

we were disregarding

Implies a conscious choice to ignore or dismiss something.

we were ignoring

Similar to disregarding, but may be less intentional.

we were not considering

Highlights the absence of thought or deliberation.

we were unmindful of

Suggests a lack of awareness or attentiveness.

we were oblivious to

Indicates a complete lack of awareness or perception.

FAQs

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

Use "we were forgetting" to express that a group of people were in the process of forgetting something. For example, "We were forgetting how beautiful the stars are without the city lights."

What's a good alternative to "we were forgetting"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "we had forgotten", "we were neglecting", or "we were overlooking".

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

Both are grammatically correct, but they convey different meanings. "We are forgetting" implies that the forgetting is happening now, while "we were forgetting" implies it was happening in the past.

What is the difference between "we were forgetting" and "we forgot"?

"We were forgetting" describes a continuous action in the past, a process of forgetting. "We forgot" is a simple past tense statement indicating that at some point in the past, you failed to remember something.