we were indicated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were indicated" is not correct in standard written English.
It is unclear and does not convey a clear meaning; it may be an attempt to express that someone was pointed out or referenced. Example: "During the meeting, we were indicated as the team responsible for the project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

(Flood marks taller than we were indicated the years when the casks had been submerged by salt water).

The Guardian - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

They were instructed to respond to questions about off-label use of the drugs by saying, "Yes, we are indicated for cancer pain, but wouldn't you agree that pain is pain?" The company sent Schneider's physician assistant to New York for an "Actiq consultants meeting"; it paid for her to stay at the W hotel and to ride a boat on the Hudson.

The New Yorker

"In this way, we are indicating the probable origin of a class of "spontaneous" mutations," he says.

MIT Technology Review

"We're indicating 5 to 10percentthat that means another 90percentt out there" will remain independent, he said.

The New York Times

Well, the modulating system that we're using in this demonstration is basically of the form that we're indicating here.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

When we say something is "white," we are indicating that it is the same color as the other things we call "white".

SEP

In embracing causal diagrams, we are indicating our commitment to unambiguous communication.

European Journal of Epidemiology

We emphasize that the arrows do not denote activation here; rather, we are indicating the directionality of regulation.

Bulletin of Mathematical Biology

Solutions were indicated.

The New York Times

And, in fact, then with K2 less than 0, the root locus that we get is indicated by this.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

What we have done is indicated privately that, of course, we'd be willing to substitute another cost containment device for a salary cap.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "we were indicated" in formal writing. Opt for clearer alternatives like "we were informed" or "it was pointed out to us" to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity.

Common error

A common mistake is attempting to use "we were indicated" to convey that information was directed to you. Instead, clarify the subject and action: use "we were informed" if someone told you something, or "it was indicated to us" to maintain a passive structure correctly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were indicated" functions as an attempted passive construction, aiming to convey that information or a direction was communicated to a group. However, this usage is grammatically incorrect as indicated by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "we were indicated" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. As Ludwig indicates, it does not conform to standard English usage. The intended meaning, which often involves receiving information or guidance, can be more effectively and clearly conveyed using alternatives like "we were informed" or "it was indicated to us". Due to its grammatical issues and lack of usage in authoritative sources, it is recommended to use more precise and standard language to ensure clarity and professionalism in communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were informed

Replaces "indicated" with "informed" to suggest receiving information.

we were told

Substitutes "indicated" with "told" to convey being directly told something.

it was indicated to us

Rephrases the sentence to specify that the indication was directed towards "us".

we were shown

Replaces "indicated" with "shown" suggesting a visual demonstration or evidence.

we were alerted

Substitutes "indicated" with "alerted" to suggest being warned or notified.

it was pointed out to us

Emphasizes that something was explicitly pointed out.

we gathered

Replaces the phrase with "we gathered" to denote the collection of information or understanding.

we understood

Indicates a comprehension or realization of something.

we inferred

Emphasizes that the information was derived through reasoning.

we learned

Indicates the acquisition of knowledge or information.

FAQs

What's a grammatically correct alternative to "we were indicated"?

Consider using alternatives such as "we were informed", "we were told", or "it was indicated to us" depending on the intended meaning.

How can I use "indicated" correctly in a passive sentence?

Ensure the sentence clearly shows what was indicated and by whom or what. For instance, "The results indicated a need for further research" is correct, while "we were indicated" lacks clarity.

Is "we were indicated" ever appropriate in formal writing?

Generally, no. It's better to use precise language like "we were informed" or "it was shown to us". Clarity is crucial in formal writing.

What is the difference between "we were indicated" and "we were informed"?

"We were informed" means that someone provided us with information directly. "We were indicated" is not grammatically correct; a proper phrasing might be "it was indicated to us", suggesting something was indirectly pointed out or suggested, though "we were informed" is usually clearer.