we were paying

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were paying" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action that was happening in the past, specifically referring to the act of making a payment. Example: "While we were paying for our groceries, the power went out unexpectedly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

And we were paying attention to that.

Princeton University

"We were paying Park Avenue prices for a substandard facility".

The New York Times

We were paying sartorial tribute to the opera's grand endeavor.

The New Yorker

"Difficult as in, we were paying a lot of claims".

The New York Times

"In the Carolinas we were paying $12.50 an hour.

The Guardian

We were paying them tremendous amounts of money.

The New York Times

I'm sure we were paying whatever the minimum wage was.

The Washington Post

"We were paying $480 a month in rent".

The New York Times

For the first eight years of our marriage, we were paying more in student loans than what we were paying for our mortgage.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

We were paid, too!

The Guardian - Film

"And we were paid.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more specific verbs than "paying" if the context allows, such as "remitting", "disbursing", or "compensating", to add precision to your writing.

Common error

Avoid shifting tenses inconsistently within a sentence. Ensure that the surrounding verbs align with the past continuous tense of "we were paying" to maintain a smooth and coherent narrative. For instance, don't mix "we were paying" with "we pay" in the same context without a clear reason for the tense change.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were paying" functions as a verb phrase in the past continuous tense. It describes an ongoing action of giving money or resources at a specific time in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "we were paying" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe a past, ongoing action of giving money or resources, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It functions as a verb phrase in the past continuous tense and is versatile enough for neutral communication. The phrase is most frequently found in News & Media, Academia, and Formal & Business contexts. Related phrases such as "we remitted" or "we disbursed" can add nuance depending on the situation. To ensure clarity, focus on the context and the consistency of tense, and avoid common errors to convey clear meaning. By understanding its usage and purpose, the phrase becomes easier to integrate into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we settled

Suggests the finalization of a payment or debt.

we covered the cost

Focuses on who took responsibility for a payment.

we remitted

Emphasizes the act of sending money, often for a specific purpose.

we were remitting funds

Emphasizes the regular transfer of money

we compensated

Highlights the act of providing payment for services or losses.

we disbursed

Implies a formal or official distribution of funds.

we expended

Focuses on the use of money or resources.

we contributed

Indicates a partial payment or share in a larger expense.

we allocated funds

Implies a deliberate setting aside of money for payment.

we were charged

Highlights that payment was requested.

FAQs

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

You can use "we were paying" to describe a past action of giving money in exchange for goods, services, or to fulfill an obligation. For example, "We were paying the rent when the landlord announced a price increase."

What can I say instead of "we were paying"?

You can use alternatives like "we were remitting", "we were settling", or "we were compensating" depending on the context.

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

The choice between "we are paying" and "we were paying" depends on the time frame you're referring to. Use "we are paying" to describe a current, ongoing action, and "we were paying" to describe an action that was happening in the past.

What's the difference between "we were paying" and "we had paid"?

"We were paying" describes an action in progress in the past, while "we had paid" indicates that the action of paying was completed before a specific point in the past. For example, "We were paying the bill when the lights went out," versus "We had paid the bill before leaving for vacation."