we were inspected

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were inspected" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a situation where a group or organization has undergone an examination or evaluation by an authority or inspector. Example: "After the safety audit, we were inspected by the health department to ensure compliance with regulations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The last time we were inspected was two years ago," King said.

The Guardian

When we were inspected in 2013, that was around child protection.

BBC

When we arrived in China, we were inspected once again, only the process was much more casual.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

He was gazing around the space we were inspecting, at the bottom of some temporary wooden stairs.

The New Yorker

A young gull came begging when we were inspecting the net, and we did toss it a few minnows, which it quickly gobbled up.

The New York Times - Arts

(The surgeon's glasses are also embarrassing to use, because they have a kind of dorky mad scientist look. My student and I got lots of odd stares while we were inspecting the painting).

Huffington Post

Nor would we be inspected to make sure that she is properly looked after.

The Guardian

We're inspected against a sixth-form colleges benchmark for a lot of our provision – but there's only 92 of them.

The Guardian

We couldn't safely get inspectors into factories but since February we've been able to mobilise... We've competed 260 or so inspections so far, we're inspecting to the tune of 60-odd per day every day and we'll complete them by September.

The Guardian

We're inspecting shipping containers now.

The New Yorker

"We are ready, we're inspecting farms, we're fully trained," Mr. Farrar said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "we were inspected", clearly state who conducted the inspection to provide context and avoid ambiguity. For example, "We were inspected by the health department".

Common error

Avoid using "we were inspected" without specifying who performed the inspection. This can leave the reader wondering about the authority or source of the inspection, weakening your statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were inspected" functions as the passive voice of the verb "inspect". It describes a state where the subject ("we") has undergone an inspection by an external entity. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "we were inspected" is a grammatically sound passive construction used to describe a past event where an entity underwent an inspection. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is correct and usable. It is most frequently found in News & Media and Science contexts. When using the phrase, it's best practice to specify who conducted the inspection to provide clarity. While it is a correct English expression, its frequency is considered rare. Alternatives like "we underwent inspection" can provide a slightly different emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we underwent inspection

Emphasizes the action of undergoing the inspection process.

an inspection was carried out on us

More formal and emphasizes the action being performed.

we were subject to inspection

Highlights the mandatory nature of the inspection.

we faced inspection

Implies a potential challenge or difficulty associated with the inspection.

we went through inspection

Focuses on the process or experience of being inspected.

inspection was performed on us

Formal and emphasizes the performance of the inspection.

our organization was audited

Specific to financial or procedural reviews.

our facilities were checked

Focuses specifically on the physical premises.

we were reviewed

General term for evaluation, less specific than 'inspected'.

we were assessed

Implies a judgment or evaluation of performance or quality.

FAQs

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

You can use "we were inspected" to describe a situation where an authority has examined your organization or group. For example, "After the safety audit, "we were inspected" by the health department to ensure compliance with regulations".

What are some alternatives to "we were inspected"?

Alternatives include "we underwent inspection", "we were subject to inspection", or "an inspection was carried out on us", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use active or passive voice when describing an inspection?

While both are grammatically correct, active voice (e.g., "The inspectors examined us") is often more direct. However, passive voice ("we were inspected") can be useful when you want to emphasize the entity being inspected rather than the inspector.

What is the difference between "we were inspected" and "we were audited"?

"We were inspected" generally refers to a broader examination for compliance or quality, while "we were audited" typically refers to a financial or procedural review. Although "our organization was audited", it is a specific type of inspection focused on financial records.