we were praised

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were praised" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a complete sentence, and can be used any time a speaker or writer wants to express that someone or something was praised or congratulated. Example: After our team won the tournament, we were praised for our hard work.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

We were praised when bad guys died.

The New York Times

"For years we were praised as a success story and then all these strange things suddenly started happening," said Mikhail Amelkin, Tion's chief technical officer.

The New York Times

My family called cleaning your plate, "Being in the clean plate club," and we were praised for eating everything.

Huffington Post

As toddlers and preschoolers, we were praised for eating; we were good little boys and girls for finishing our peas.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Much as we are praised for our democracy, we will be praised for justice in South Africa".

The Guardian

But if it is humiliation that we are concerned about, why do we blush when we're praised?

The New Yorker

In fact, we have become so conditioned by its use from early childhood that when we are praised, we automatically get ready for the shock, the reproof.

Harvard Business Review

Studies show that when we are praised for having high ability, it leaves us vulnerable to self-doubt when we encounter difficulty.

Forbes

If we are praised and appreciated the heart feels strong and empowered.

Huffington Post

When the child is healed we are praised because we wrote a referral letter for them" (HSA).

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

More often than not, we tend to not think about what we're praising for our children.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we were praised" when you want to clearly and directly state that a group received positive feedback or approval. It's concise and easily understood.

Common error

Avoid using the present tense when describing past praise. For example, don't say "we are praised" when you mean "we were praised" for something that happened in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were praised" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that we (the subject) received praise from an unspecified agent. This is confirmed by Ludwig, which identifies the phrase as correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we were praised" is a grammatically correct and readily understandable phrase used to express that a group received positive feedback. As Ludwig confirms, the phrase follows standard grammar rules. Although the phrase appears as "uncommon", it is versatile enough to be used across different registers, mainly across "News & Media", "Science" and "Academia". For those seeking alternatives, options like "we received accolades" or "we were commended" can offer a more formal tone. Remember to use the past tense "were" to correctly indicate the praise occurred in the past.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were commended

Replaces "praised" with "commended", suggesting a more formal and official expression of approval.

we received accolades

Replaces "praised" with a more formal synonym, "accolades", emphasizing the receipt of honors or awards.

we were lauded

Replaces "praised" with "lauded", indicating enthusiastic and public praise.

we were applauded

Replaces "praised" with "applauded", suggesting public approval or admiration.

we garnered praise

Substitutes "were praised" with "garnered praise", highlighting the effort or achievement that led to the positive feedback.

we were highly regarded

Indicates that the subject was held in high esteem or respect.

we earned recognition

Shifts the focus from praise to recognition, indicating acknowledgment of accomplishments or qualities.

we gained approval

Highlights the attainment of approval or positive regard.

praise was bestowed upon us

Changes the sentence structure to emphasize the act of giving praise, using a more formal tone.

we were given credit

Focuses on receiving credit or acknowledgment for contributions or achievements.

FAQs

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

You can use "we were praised" to indicate that a group received positive feedback. For example, "After the successful project launch, "we were praised" for our teamwork."

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

Alternatives like "we were commended" or "we received accolades" provide a more formal tone than "we were praised".

Is "we was praised" grammatically correct?

No, "we was praised" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "we were praised" because "we" is a plural pronoun and requires the plural form of the verb "to be".

What is the difference between "we were praised" and "we are praised"?

"We were praised" refers to a past event, while "we are praised" refers to something that is happening in the present or as a general ongoing situation.