we were not sure of

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "we were not sure of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you wish to express that you and possibly other people were uncertain about something. Example: We were not sure of the best way to proceed, so we consulted with our supervisor.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

One policeman said they "really wanted to control the crowd earlier but it is not our country, so we were not sure of what to do".

The Guardian - Sport

Oh, sure, of course.

The New Yorker

Sure, of course.

The New York Times

We were sure of it.

The New Yorker

Madrid made sure of that.

The New York Times - Sports

He is sure of that.

The New York Times - Sports

She was sure of it.

The New Yorker

Mahan made sure of that.

The New York Times - Sports

Not sure of the breed.

Independent

"I am sure of that".

The New Yorker

That I'm sure of".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we were not sure of" to express collective uncertainty about a specific fact, situation, or outcome. Ensure the context clearly identifies who 'we' refers to.

Common error

Avoid using incorrect prepositions after "sure". The correct form is "sure of" or "sure about". Saying "sure with" or "sure on" is grammatically incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were not sure of" functions as a statement of uncertainty or lack of confidence regarding a particular subject. Ludwig AI confirms this is grammatically correct and commonly used. This expression indicates a degree of doubt or a lack of definitive knowledge among a group.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we were not sure of" effectively conveys a lack of certainty or confidence about something. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and common usage. While infrequent in occurrence, its meaning is clear and applicable across various contexts, though primarily found in news and media. To enhance your writing, remember to use the correct preposition ("of") and consider alternative expressions like "we were unsure about" or "we weren't certain about" to add nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were unsure about

Replaces "not sure" with "unsure", a more concise alternative.

we weren't certain about

Uses "certain" instead of "sure", slightly more formal.

we couldn't be certain of

Uses "couldn't be certain" to express the inability to be sure.

we were in doubt about

Emphasizes the state of being in doubt.

we had doubts regarding

Highlights the presence of doubts.

we had no certainty about

Focuses on the absence of certainty.

we lacked confidence in

Emphasizes the lack of confidence rather than the uncertainty.

we weren't convinced about

Suggests a lack of persuasion or belief.

we were unclear on

Indicates a lack of clarity or understanding.

we were hesitant about

Indicates a reluctance or hesitation.

FAQs

What does "we were not sure of" mean?

It means that a group of people lacked certainty or confidence about something.

What can I say instead of "we were not sure of"?

You can use alternatives like "we were unsure about", "we weren't certain about", or "we had doubts regarding".

Is it grammatically correct to say "we weren't sure of it"?

Yes, "we weren't sure of it" is grammatically correct and commonly used to express a lack of certainty about something specific.

How do I use "we were not sure of" in a sentence?

You can use it to express a lack of confidence or certainty. For example: "We were not sure of the outcome, but we proceeded anyway".