we were honored to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were honored to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express gratitude or appreciation for a privilege or opportunity that has been given to you or your group. Example: "We were honored to receive the award for our community service efforts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

We were honored to know Judy professionally and personally.

The New York Times

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 have Ghosn as our key panelist.

Harvard Business Review

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

The New York Times

We were honored to have the benefit of Oscar's leadership for so many years.

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

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

At GE we were honored to be atop your list of the Forbes Global 2000.

Forbes

We were honored to be included in this list next to pioneers like Andela and Flutterwave.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we were honored to" when expressing sincere appreciation for a privilege, recognition, or opportunity. Ensure the context warrants a formal tone and genuine sentiment.

Common error

Avoid using "we were honored to" in casual or informal settings where simpler expressions of gratitude would be more appropriate. This phrase often signals a degree of formality that can sound out of place in everyday conversation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were honored to" functions as an expression of gratitude or appreciation for a privilege, opportunity, or recognition. As shown in Ludwig, it's often used in formal statements and announcements.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Academia

22%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Science

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we were honored to" is a widely used phrase for formally expressing gratitude and appreciation, predominantly found in news, academic, and business contexts. Ludwig AI analysis confirms it is grammatically correct and suitable for formal situations, as mentioned in its response. When considering alternative expressions, it is crucial to adjust the tone and formality to suit the context. Although the phrase is acceptable, overuse in informal settings should be avoided, and alternatives like "we were pleased to" or "we were happy to" can be employed for casual conversations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was an honor for us to

Rephrases the sentence structure while retaining the core meaning of being honored.

we considered it an honor to

Highlights the act of regarding something as an honor, emphasizing subjective assessment.

we felt privileged to

Expresses a sense of special opportunity, similar to being honored, but emphasizes personal feeling.

we were privileged to

Similar to "we felt privileged to", but omits the explicit expression of feeling. It focuses on the privilege itself.

we were fortunate to

Highlights luck or good fortune in receiving the opportunity, rather than a specific honor.

we were grateful to

Emphasizes thankfulness for the opportunity or recognition, shifting the focus to gratitude.

we appreciated the opportunity to

Focuses on the opportunity itself, expressing appreciation for having been given it.

we were pleased to

Expresses satisfaction and delight, which can be a component of being honored, but is less specific.

we took pride in

Implies a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction stemming from an achievement or association.

we were proud to

Indicates a feeling of pride, which can be a consequence of being honored, but is a broader emotion.

FAQs

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

Use "we were honored to" to express sincere appreciation for a privilege or opportunity. For example, "We were honored to receive the award for our contributions." It's best suited for formal contexts where genuine gratitude is conveyed.

What's a more casual alternative to "we were honored to"?

For less formal situations, consider alternatives like "we were pleased to", "we were happy to", or "we were glad to". These phrases convey a similar sentiment without the same level of formality.

Is "we were honored to" too formal for everyday conversation?

While grammatically correct, "we were honored to" often carries a formal tone. In everyday conversation, simpler expressions of gratitude like "we were happy to" or "we appreciated it" may be more appropriate and natural.

What is the difference between "we were honored to" and "we felt privileged to"?

"We were honored to" emphasizes recognition and esteem, while "we felt privileged to" highlights a sense of special opportunity or personal gratification. The choice depends on whether you wish to stress the honor bestowed or the personal feeling of privilege.