we were honored

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were honored" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express gratitude or appreciation for a recognition, opportunity, or privilege that has been given to you or your group. Example: "We were honored to receive the award for our community service efforts at the annual gala."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

We were honored to be asked.

The New York Times

We were honored to be his friend.

The New York Times

But we were honored to be a part of this".

The New Yorker

We were honored to know Judy professionally and personally.

The New York Times

We were honored to have Ghosn as our key panelist.

Harvard Business Review

We were honored to devote an entire evening to him recently at Carnegie Hall.

The New York Times

I addressed a special congressional group, and we were honored at the White House.

The New Yorker

We were honored to be a part of his life and will never forget him.

The New York Times

We were honored to know Judy both professionally and personally for more than 20 years.

The New York Times

"We were honored to have someone of his stature play at our festival".

The New York Times

We were honored and proud to have him as a dedicated supporter of our mission.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we were honored" when you want to express genuine appreciation for an opportunity, recognition, or association. Ensure the context reflects a situation that is truly considered an honor, rather than simply a routine event.

Common error

Avoid using "we were honored" in situations where the event or recognition is commonplace or expected. Overuse can dilute its impact and make your writing sound insincere. Instead, reserve it for genuinely significant occasions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were honored" functions as a passive voice construction expressing gratitude or appreciation for a past event or recognition. As Ludwig AI confirms, this expression is considered correct and widely used. It typically precedes an explanation of what the speaker or group was honored by or to do.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Science

5%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we were honored" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to express gratitude, humility, or pride regarding a past event or recognition. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is considered correct for use in written English. Predominantly found in News & Media and Academic contexts, it maintains a neutral to formal tone suitable for official statements and announcements. While the expression is useful for formal communication, consider using alternatives like "we felt privileged" or "we were grateful" to convey a similar sentiment in different language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we felt honored

Replaces the verb "were" with "felt", emphasizing the emotional aspect of being honored.

we were privileged

Substitutes "honored" with "privileged", highlighting the special opportunity or advantage received.

we were humbled

Replaces "honored" with "humbled", emphasizing a sense of modesty and gratitude.

we were grateful

Uses "grateful" instead of "honored", focusing on thankfulness for the recognition or opportunity.

it was an honor for us

Restructures the sentence to emphasize the honor itself rather than the feeling.

we took pride in

Shifts the focus to the pride taken in the achievement or association.

we were delighted

Expresses pleasure and joy in addition to being honored.

we appreciated the honor

Directly expresses appreciation for the honor bestowed.

we were recognized

Focuses on the act of being acknowledged or recognized, which led to the feeling of being honored.

we were proud

Emphasizes the feeling of pride associated with the honor.

FAQs

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

"We were honored" is typically followed by an infinitive phrase (e.g., "we were honored to receive the award") or a prepositional phrase (e.g., "we were honored by their visit"). It expresses gratitude or appreciation for a specific event or recognition.

What can I say instead of "we were honored"?

You can use alternatives like "we felt privileged", "we were grateful", or "it was an honor for us" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "we were honored"?

Yes, "we were honored" is grammatically correct. It uses the past tense of the verb "to be" ("were") with the past participle of the verb "to honor" ("honored"), forming a passive voice construction.

What's the difference between "we were honored" and "we are honored"?

"We were honored" refers to a past event or recognition, while "we are honored" refers to a current or ongoing feeling or situation. For example, "We were honored to receive the award last year" (past) versus "We are honored to be part of this organization" (present).