we were impacted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'we were impacted' is correct and usable in written English.
It is generally used to describe the feeling of having been affected in a negative way by a situation or event. For example, "We were impacted by the closure of our local library."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

"We were impacted by 15 to 16 inches of rain in less than eight hours.

The New York Times

"But we were impacted by the transit shutdown, and that hurt our attendance".

The New York Times

"Certainly we made mistakes, and unfortunately we were impacted by factors beyond our control including the current economic environment and state of the travel industry.

TechCrunch

"We got stronger towards the end of the group but we were impacted hugely by the lack of budget as we couldn't afford a full strength team," he said.

BBC

While we know how bad it is here, someone forgot to emphasize to the rest of the country how badly we were impacted in South Florida.

Huffington Post

We were impacted by the crisis since food products became significantly more expensive".

Unicef

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

We are impacted even by things we don't see.

Independent

That even when we don't look we are impacted by its presence.

The Guardian - Opinion

We are being sidelined because politics isn't accessible – but we are impacted by a lot of the decisions made by the government and we have a lot to say about how these decisions affect us.

The Guardian

*"Research suggests we're impacted by over 3,000 promotional messages every day" source: Media Dynamics, Inc. September 2014.

Vice

Research suggests we're impacted by over 3,000 promotional messages every day*.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we were impacted" when you want to emphasize the feeling of being affected, often negatively, by external forces or events. It is a more formal way of saying "we were affected".

Common error

While "we were impacted" is acceptable, it can sound stilted in casual conversation. In informal settings, consider simpler alternatives like "we were affected" or "it hit us hard."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were impacted" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject (we) experienced an effect or influence from an external source. It is often used to convey that a group has been affected by a specific event or situation.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Formal & Business

14%

Science

14%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we were impacted" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase, primarily employed to convey the experience of being affected by an external influence, often with negative connotations. Ludwig AI confirms this. While suitable for formal and neutral registers, it might sound stilted in informal conversation where alternatives like "we were affected" could be more appropriate. Usage is frequent in news and business contexts. Remember that while its message is clear and straightforward, the specific context influences if there's a better option with finer nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were affected

Focuses on the general state of being influenced or changed.

we were influenced

Highlights the impact on opinions or actions.

we experienced the effects

Emphasizes the direct consequences faced.

we felt the consequences

Focuses on the subjective feeling of the results.

we were touched by

Suggests a more emotional or empathetic impact.

we were changed by

Highlights the transformative aspect of the experience.

we were reached by

Implies being contacted or influenced from a distance.

we were reached

It is a shorter form and very similar to the previous alternative.

we were reached

Implies being contacted or influenced from a distance.

we suffered the impact

Focuses on negative effects and hardship.

FAQs

What does "we were impacted" mean?

The phrase "we were impacted" means that a group or organization experienced a significant effect or influence, usually negative, as a result of an external event or situation. It suggests that the event had a notable consequence on the group.

When is it appropriate to use "we were impacted"?

It is appropriate to use "we were impacted" in formal or professional contexts, such as business reports, news articles, or academic papers, when describing how a group or organization has been significantly affected by something. In informal settings, simpler alternatives like "we were affected" may be more suitable.

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

You can use alternatives like "we were affected", "we experienced the effects", or "we felt the consequences" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "we were impacted by" grammatically correct?

Yes, "we were impacted by" is grammatically correct. It uses the passive voice to indicate that the group "we" received the impact from an external force.