we were however

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were however" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to introduce a contrast or exception to a previous statement. Example: "We were excited about the project; we were, however, concerned about the tight deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

WE were, however, starting to enjoy the child's play.

The New York Times - Travel

We were, however, wrong.

The New York Times - Travel

We were, however, doomed, and knew it.

The New Yorker

We were, however, forbidden to use any external agency staff to cope with the dire shortages.

The Guardian

We were, however, all being more careful, maintaining the line and the gaps between horses.

The Guardian - Travel

We were, however, extremely anxious about the social, logistic and practical impact their dietary restrictions would have on their lives and our family as a whole.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

We were, however, privileged to see a video of Jones reading from the first chapter of her new book, Enchanted Glass.

The Guardian - Books

"We were, however, interested in an idea that was proposed of permitting early retirement, from a specified age and for a defined cohort of women, on an actuarially neutral basis," said the summary.

The Guardian - Money

We were however unable to determine solubility model's AD.

Journal of Cheminformatics

We were however unable to achieve reliable fits for all tissue data with this model, as illustrated in Fig. 10.

EJNMMI Research

We were however unable to find any report of large-scale industrial applications of AORE approaches that treat dependencies and interactions.

Science of Computer Programming

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "we were however", ensure it logically connects two contrasting ideas. The phrase works best when the second part of the sentence provides a surprising or unexpected twist to the first.

Common error

Avoid placing "however" at the very beginning or end of the sentence, as this can sound awkward. Placing it after "we were" usually provides a smoother reading experience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were however" functions as an adverbial interrupter. It serves to introduce a contrasting element or a qualification to a statement. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase introduces a contrast or exception to a previous statement.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

42%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we were however" serves as a versatile tool for introducing contrast or qualification in a sentence. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and is typically used to introduce a contrast or exception to a previous statement. It finds frequent application across various writing registers, especially in scientific and journalistic contexts. When employing "we were however", make sure the contrast is clear and the placement of "however" feels natural within the sentence. Alternative expressions like "we were nevertheless" or "we were still" offer stylistic options for similar contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were nevertheless

This alternative maintains a formal tone while expressing contrast, similar to the original phrase.

we were nonetheless

Offers a slightly less formal alternative while retaining the meaning of "despite that".

we were still

A simpler and more direct way to indicate that something continued despite a previous statement.

yet we were

This inverts the structure for emphasis, placing 'yet' at the beginning.

but we were

A basic conjunction to show contrast, less formal than "however".

we were even so

This phrase indicates that despite what was mentioned, the following statement still holds true.

we were in spite of that

This is a more verbose alternative, explicitly stating the contrast.

we were be that as it may

A more formal and somewhat archaic way to introduce a contrasting point.

we were all the same

Implies that something remains consistent despite other factors.

even then we were

Highlights that even under the circumstances, the subsequent statement is true.

FAQs

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

Use "we were however" to introduce a contrast or qualification to a previous statement. For example: "We anticipated challenges; "we were however", prepared to address them."

What's a less formal way to say "we were however"?

Alternatives include "but we were" or "we were still", which are suitable for informal contexts.

Is it grammatically correct to start a sentence with "however"?

While starting a sentence with "however" is acceptable, using ""we were however"" within the sentence after the subject often provides a smoother flow and maintains a clear connection to the preceding clause.

What's the difference between "we were however" and "we were nevertheless"?

""we were however"" is generally more common and versatile, while "we were nevertheless" is more formal and emphasizes a stronger sense of contrast despite a preceding circumstance.