we were misled

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were misled" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a situation where someone was given false or misleading information. Example: "After reviewing the evidence, it became clear that we were misled about the project's timeline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

The simple answer is: we were misled.

The Guardian

Does it matter that we were misled into war?

The New York Times

"We just felt we were misled," he said.

The New York Times

"We were misled by the agent," Mr. Beaudoin said.

The New York Times

We just needed some fresh air, I have misled you and we were misled.

The New York Times

I did have a strong feeling we were misled into it.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

The suggestion that we were misleading the public is frustrating and untrue".

TechCrunch

The hard part was making sure we were misleading viewers correctly, so by the time you got there, it was inevitable.

Los Angeles Times

Without knowing reviewers' real identities, couldn't we be misled?

The New York Times - Tech

We are misled by the popular-culture portrayals of leaders.

Harvard Business Review

In the worst case, we can be misled into believing that ineffective treatments are worth using; more commonly we are misled about the relative merits of competing treatments, exposing patients to inferior ones.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "we were misled", clarify who "we" refers to and, if possible, who did the misleading. Providing context strengthens your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "we were misled" excessively, especially in contexts where active voice would be more direct and impactful. Instead of "we were misled by the report", consider "the report misled us".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were misled" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject ("we") was the recipient of a misleading action. Ludwig's examples show its usage in various contexts, particularly to express a sense of having been given incorrect or incomplete information.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Academia

6%

Science

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "we were misled" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that a group received false or inaccurate information. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's frequently used in news and media to report on situations where deception or misinformation is suspected. When using this phrase, it's best to clarify who the "we" refers to and who did the misleading, if known. While suitable for various contexts, consider using active voice for more directness and impact. Alternatives like "we were misinformed" or "we received incorrect information" can be more neutral options, especially when intent is unclear.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were deceived

Emphasizes intentional deception, suggesting a deliberate act of misleading.

we were misinformed

Highlights the state of being incorrectly informed, placing less emphasis on the source of the misinformation.

we were given false information

Focuses on the inaccuracy of the information received, without necessarily implying intentional deception.

we were given incorrect information

Similar to 'false information', but slightly less accusatory and more neutral.

we received incomplete information

Highlights the lack of crucial details, leading to potential errors in judgment.

we were under the wrong impression

Focuses on the resulting belief or understanding, rather than the act of misleading.

we were not given the full story

Indicates that some information was withheld, leading to a skewed understanding.

we were laboring under a misconception

Suggests a shared misunderstanding or false belief.

we were operating on bad data

Implies a reliance on flawed or unreliable data in decision-making.

we were sold a bill of goods

Suggests being persuaded to accept something of little or no value, often through deceptive marketing.

FAQs

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

You can use "we were misled" to express that you or a group of people received false or inaccurate information. For example, "We were misled about the project's timeline, which caused significant delays".

What's a less accusatory alternative to "we were misled"?

Alternatives like "we were misinformed" or "we received incorrect information" are less direct and focus on the information being wrong rather than intentional deception.

Is it always appropriate to use "we were misled"?

It is appropriate when you have evidence or strong belief that false information was given. If you're unsure, using a more neutral phrase like "we were mistaken" may be better.

What's the difference between "we were misled" and "we were deceived"?

"We were misled" implies receiving false information, while "we were deceived" suggests intentional trickery or manipulation. Deception is a stronger claim.