we were practising

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were practising" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an ongoing action of practicing something in the past. Example: "During the summer, we were practising our musical pieces every afternoon to prepare for the concert."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

We were practising all day, and at seven o'clock we would go home and sit with the curtains closed, everything dark the way it had to be".

Independent

We weren't alllowed to watch television – we might sneak in a quick episode of Neighbours, but when we heard our father's car we would switch it off and pretend we were practising the piano.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He was about five years old, and had grown up at the house, which was founded six years ago.An older woman reminisced about the early days: "We were practising democracy as it should be.

The Economist

"It was important that we were practising what we were preaching that we would advance the case internationally at the same time as doing it internally," he says.His first task was to fix the European emissions-trading scheme and make it the core of Europe's environmental policy.

The Economist

"We were practising penalties last night.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

'We're practising six hours a day,' he says.

The Guardian - Sport

So we're practising, OK?' The manufacturers claim that Femidom is as quick to insert as a tampon.

Independent

Brison adds: "IVF has been of tremendous benefit to millions of couples – we just need to make sure we're practising this technology in the safest possible way".

The Guardian

Anderson, who was presented to the inquiry as an AgForce regional representative, continued: "Radical media are portraying the image that we are practising large-scale land clearing, when this is clearly not the case.

The Guardian

"We are practising a much healthier sport and there is almost no doping," France's young outsider for a top placing, 23-year-old Thibaut Pinot – 10th last year – told Le Figaro yesterday, "which makes it easier to win.

Independent

As if we're practising our signature in the back of a homework diary, or penning "If this book should ever roam, box its ears and send it home to... " in the front of a beloved novel.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we were practising" to describe a continuous action in the past, indicating an ongoing effort to improve a skill or prepare for an event. For example, "We were practising our free throws every day before the basketball tournament."

Common error

Avoid using "we were practising" to describe a one-time, completed action. Instead, use the simple past tense, such as "we practised".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were practising" serves as a verb phrase indicating a continuous action in the past. It typically functions as the main verb in a sentence, describing an ongoing activity of rehearsal or training. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatically correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we were practising" is a grammatically sound verb phrase used to describe a continuous action in the past, according to Ludwig AI. It's commonly found in news and media contexts to indicate ongoing effort or preparation. While there are other alternatives such as "we were rehearsing", it is important to use it in the correct tense to avoid errors. Considering its neutral tone, the phrase fits into diverse writing styles, adding clarity and specificity. With a source quality score of 87, the phrase is largely supported by authoritative sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were rehearsing

Synonymous replacement, maintaining the continuous aspect but using 'rehearsing' instead of 'practising'.

we were training

Similar to 'we trained', but retains the continuous tense to indicate ongoing activity.

we rehearsed

Replaces the continuous tense with a simple past, indicating a completed act of practicing.

we were preparing

Like 'we prepared', but emphasizes the continuous action of getting ready.

we were drilling

Keeps the emphasis on repetitive practice but maintains the continuous tense.

we trained

Uses 'trained' to suggest a more structured or athletic type of practice.

we were working on

Emphasizes the ongoing nature of the effort, similar to 'we worked on' but in continuous form.

we prepared

Focuses on the preparation aspect of practising, suitable when referring to readiness for an event.

we drilled

Suggests a repetitive and focused form of practice, like military or sports drills.

we worked on

Highlights the effort and labor involved in the practice.

FAQs

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

Use "we were practising" to describe an ongoing action of rehearsing or honing a skill in the past, like "We were practising our presentation skills before the conference".

What are some alternatives to "we were practising"?

You could use alternatives such as "we rehearsed", "we were rehearsing", or "we trained" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "we were practicing" instead of "we were practising"?

Both "practising" (with an 's') and "practicing" (with a 'c') are acceptable, but "practising" is more common in British English, while "practicing" is preferred in American English.

What's the difference between "we practised" and "we were practising"?

"We practised" indicates a completed action in the past, whereas "we were practising" implies a continuous action over a period of time in the past. For example, "We practised the song yesterday" versus "We were practising the song all afternoon".