we were making

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were making" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an ongoing action in the past, often in the context of creating or producing something. Example: "While we were making dinner, we realized we had forgotten to buy the main ingredient."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

We were making progress".

The New York Times - Sports

But we were making decent time.

The New Yorker

We were making some strong plays.

The New York Times - Sports

We were making pancakes for dinner.

The New York Times - Health

"We were making money shopping," she said.

The New York Times - Magazine

We were making new relationships".

The Guardian - Business

We were making change happen.

The Guardian - Opinion

We were making a living.

The New York Times

We were making bad decisions.

The New York Times - Sports

We felt like we were making history".

The New Yorker

We thought we were making progress.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we were making" to describe an ongoing process or activity in the past, particularly when emphasizing the duration or continuity of the action. For example, "We were making progress on the project when the power went out."

Common error

Avoid shifting tenses inappropriately. Ensure that when using "we were making", the surrounding sentences also maintain a consistent past tense. For example, don't write: "We were making dinner, and then we order pizza."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were making" functions as a past continuous verb phrase. It indicates an action that was in progress at a specific time or over a period of time in the past. Ludwig confirms its correctness and frequent usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Formal & Business

12%

Science

12%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we were making" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to describe an ongoing action in the past. Ludwig confirms its validity and showcases numerous examples from reputable sources. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it serves to convey actions, creations, or processes underway in the past. When using this phrase, ensure consistency in tense and select related terms thoughtfully to avoid shifts in meaning. Alternatives like "we created" or "we produced" can provide nuanced variations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were developing

Highlights the continuous nature of the development process in the past.

we were building

Highlights the continuous act of construction in the past.

we were constructing

Similar to building, but can imply a more complex or elaborate process.

we were crafting

Highlights ongoing skillfull or artistic creation in the past.

we created

Focuses on the completed action of creation, instead of the ongoing process.

we produced

Similar to creating, but often implies a more formal or industrial process.

we developed

Emphasizes the gradual process of improvement or advancement.

we crafted

Implies skillful or artistic creation.

we fabricated

Suggests the action of constructing or inventing, sometimes with a hint of deception.

we assembled

Suggests the process of putting parts together to form a whole.

FAQs

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

Use "we were making" to describe an action in progress in the past. For example, "We were making plans for our vacation when the pandemic started."

What are some alternatives to "we were making"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "we created", "we produced", or "we developed".

Is it correct to say "we are making" instead of "we were making"?

The correct tense depends on the time frame you're referring to. "We are making" indicates present continuous tense, while "we were making" refers to past continuous tense. Use "we were making" when describing something that was happening in the past.

What is the difference between "we made" and "we were making"?

"We made" implies a completed action in the past, while "we were making" indicates an ongoing action in the past. For example, "We made a cake" means the cake is finished, but "we were making a cake" means the process of making the cake was in progress.