we were plagued by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were plagued by" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone is experiencing persistent problems or difficulties caused by something negative. Example: "During the project, we were plagued by technical issues that delayed our progress."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

We were plagued by injuries.

The New York Times - Sports

We were plagued by the school, social services".

The Guardian

ii) More powerful Android phones/Tablets: Initially we were plagued by emails complaining about how some features in Pulse did not work on old phones.

TechCrunch

I had a nervous breakdown in the middle of production and we were plagued by a nasty flu virus infecting everyone and shutting down production for several days.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"But we are plagued by lawyers working for the Vatican and for the church to make sure they fight tooth and nail to make sure, unless forced to, they don't have to be responsible for what happened.

The New York Times

It may be appropriate to have a financial whiz and progenitor of the national bank on our money, but we are plagued by his spiritual successors (like Bruce Ackerman, John Yoo and Michael Lind) every day of our lives.

The Guardian - Opinion

When we look at each country separately as well as at all the different measures of time allocation available in our data, we are plagued by the multiple hypothesis problem and type I errors.

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

We are plagued by hope against hope.

Huffington Post

We are plagued by chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and obesity.

Vice

Too often, we're plagued by "time poverty" -- the idea that there's not enough time to do all the work we need to do.

Huffington Post

We are plagued by feelings of inadequateness and worthlessness, postponing self-acceptance and self-love until a day in the future when we're thinner, wealthier, more confident and more popular.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we were plagued by" to describe situations where a group experienced persistent and troublesome problems, especially those that significantly hindered progress or caused distress. Ensure the subject causing the problem is clearly identified for clarity.

Common error

While "we were plagued by" is appropriate for formal and neutral contexts, avoid using it excessively in informal conversation. Simpler alternatives like "we had issues with" might be more suitable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were plagued by" functions as a descriptive statement, indicating that a group experienced persistent and troublesome problems. As noted by Ludwig AI, this phrase is usable and correct in written English. It highlights the negative impact of the subject causing the problems.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

12%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we were plagued by" is a grammatically correct and usable expression for describing persistent and troublesome problems experienced by a group. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's suitable for formal and neutral contexts, particularly in news and media, science, and wiki articles. While less common in casual conversation, its impact lies in conveying ongoing difficulties and distress. Consider simpler alternatives like "we had issues with" in informal settings to maintain the tone. The phrase functions to express the hindrance resulting from specific troubles and is generally well-understood in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were beset by

Replaces "plagued" with "beset", emphasizing the persistent and troublesome nature of the problem.

we were troubled by

Substitutes "plagued" with "troubled", indicating a state of worry or concern caused by something.

we suffered from

Replaces the entire phrase, focusing on the experience of enduring something negative.

we were afflicted by

Uses "afflicted" instead of "plagued", suggesting a more serious or widespread negative impact.

we were burdened by

Changes "plagued" to "burdened", highlighting the weight or strain caused by the problem.

we were haunted by

Replaces "plagued" with "haunted", suggesting a persistent and disturbing presence.

we were hounded by

Substitutes "plagued" with "hounded", indicating relentless pursuit or harassment by something.

we faced difficulties with

Offers a less intense way of saying that there were problems.

we struggled with

Indicates a continuous effort to overcome an obstacle or difficulty.

we had problems with

A simpler and more direct way of expressing that issues were encountered.

FAQs

How can I use "we were plagued by" in a sentence?

Use "we were plagued by" to describe a situation where a group consistently faced difficulties or troubles. For example, "During the project, "we were plagued by" technical glitches".

What are some alternatives to "we were plagued by"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "we were beset by", "we suffered from", or "we struggled with".

Is "we were plagued by" suitable for formal writing?

Yes, "we were plagued by" is appropriate for formal writing, as it clearly conveys a sense of persistent trouble or difficulty. However, always consider the specific tone and audience of your writing.

What's the difference between "we were plagued by" and "we had problems with"?

"We were plagued by" suggests a more persistent and troublesome issue than "we had problems with", which can refer to more minor or isolated incidents. The former implies a significant and ongoing negative impact.