we were notified that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were notified that" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is usually used to indicate that someone has been given information. For example, "We were notified that the shipment of goods would be delayed by two weeks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

At 6pm the night before we were notified that it was cancelled.

The Guardian - Money

"However, while we were assessing this evidence, we were notified that Silva was planning to move on soon".

The Guardian

Just an hour before everyone would leave for the weekend, we were notified that our policy initiative had been approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

Stanford University

We were told we couldn't come into the building to knock on residents' doors, and shortly after that we were notified that we would have to leave or the police would be called.

The Guardian - Money

While our team was preparing for the 2017 graduation ceremony, we were notified that one of Yale's Honorary Degree (HD) recipients was the legendary musical genius Stevland Morris, also known as Stevie Wonder.

Yale University

"However, while we were assessing this evidence, we were notified that Silva was planning to move on soon". The spokesman said that while the British government takes all such allegations very seriously, he was unable to comment on the legal action brought by the GTF.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

When we are notified that OCR engines can read Devanagari, we will reprocess the files for fulltext search functionality.

Cornell University

Until we are notified that these pants have been let out again, we will not put our official seal on Recovery.

The New Yorker

When we're notified that a particular video uploaded to our site infringes another's copyright, we remove the material in accordance with the law.

Forbes

UPDATE: A YouTube spokesperson sent us a statement: "As always, when we're notified that a particular video uploaded to our site infringes another's copyright, we remove the material in accordance with the law".

TechCrunch

"We were notified immediately and that sets off, for us, a protocol in which we immediately identify our resources".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we were notified that" to formally convey the receipt of information from an external source or authority. It establishes a clear line of communication and adds credibility.

Common error

Avoid excessive use of passive voice, as it can make your writing sound weak or unclear. Consider rephrasing to active voice where appropriate, for instance, "They notified us that..." instead of "We were notified that...".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "we were notified that" is to act as a reporting clause. It introduces information that the subject ("we") has received, indicating a passive reception of news or updates. Ludwig shows multiple examples from diverse sources to confirm its usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we were notified that" is a grammatically correct and neutrally-toned expression used to formally convey the receipt of information. According to Ludwig, it functions as a reporting clause, most frequently appearing in news, academic, and scientific contexts. While the phrase is relatively common, careful writers should be mindful of overusing the passive voice and explore active voice alternatives for greater clarity. Remember to choose the correct preposition: "notified of" for nouns and "notified that" for clauses.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we received notification that

Replaces "notified" with "received notification", offering a slightly more formal tone.

we were informed that

Substitutes "notified" with "informed", providing a direct and neutral alternative.

we were alerted that

Suggests a warning or prompt notification of something important.

it was brought to our attention that

Offers a more indirect way of stating the receipt of information.

we were advised that

Indicates that the information came in the form of advice or counsel.

we learned that

Replaces "were notified" with "learned", suggesting a more general acquisition of knowledge.

we came to know that

Similar to "we learned that", but with a slightly more emphasized discovery.

a communication informed us that

A more formal alternative, emphasizing the act of communication.

we understood that

Focuses on comprehension of the information, rather than the act of notification.

word reached us that

An idiom indicating information was received through less formal channels.

FAQs

How can I use "we were notified that" in a sentence?

Use "we were notified that" to formally announce receiving news or information, for example, "We were notified that the meeting has been postponed".

What's a more formal alternative to "we were notified that"?

A more formal alternative includes phrases like "we received notification that", which adds a layer of formality to the statement.

Is "we were notified of" grammatically correct instead of "we were notified that"?

While both can be correct, "we were notified of" is typically followed by a noun or noun phrase (e.g., "we were notified of the change"), while "we were notified that" introduces a clause (e.g., "we were notified that the change would occur").

What can I say instead of "we were notified that" to sound less formal?

For a less formal tone, consider using phrases like "we learned that" or "we found out that", depending on the context.