we were promised

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were promised" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in a sentence that refers to an expectation that has been made. For example: "We were promised a pay raise, so we are expecting it to come through soon."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We were promised tents.

The New York Times

'No mission creep' we were promised.

Independent

It is not what we were promised.

The New York Times

We were promised salvation by art.

The New York Times

We were promised pain with a purpose.

The Guardian

Where's that slick future we were promised?

The Guardian - Tech

The American Airlines representatives we were promised failed to materialize.

The New York Times

but where's the whale on stilts that we were promised?

The New Yorker

At the same time the support we were promised stopped.

The Guardian

We don't have the ammunition we were promised.

The Guardian

We need the game-changing strategy we were promised.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "we were promised", ensure the context clearly establishes who made the promise and to whom it was made. This adds credibility and clarity to your statement: "The developers promised us regular updates, yet the last patch was months ago."

Common error

Do not use "we were promised" without specifying what was promised. Vague statements lack impact and can be easily dismissed. Instead of saying "we were promised results", specify what kind of results were promised: "We were promised a 20% increase in sales within the first quarter."

Linguistic Context

Expressing unfulfilled expectations. The phrase "we were promised" functions as a passive construction used to indicate that an expectation or commitment was made but not fulfilled. It highlights a discrepancy between what was assured and the current reality, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "we were promised" is a common and grammatically correct construction used to express unfulfilled expectations or commitments. As indicated by Ludwig AI, this phrase is widely used, particularly in news and media contexts. When using "we were promised", it is essential to clearly specify what was promised and by whom, to avoid vagueness and strengthen your statement. Alternative phrases like "we had been assured" or "we were guaranteed" can provide nuanced emphasis. By following best practices and avoiding common errors, you can effectively use "we were promised" to communicate disappointment and hold responsible parties accountable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we had been assured

Emphasizes the feeling of being reassured beforehand, with a slightly more formal tone.

we were guaranteed

Highlights a stronger level of commitment that was not fulfilled.

we were led to believe

Suggests a degree of manipulation or indirect communication.

a pledge was made to us

Emphasizes the formal nature of the commitment, indicating a solemn promise.

we were told

A more neutral phrasing, simply stating information received, without necessarily implying a promise.

assurances were given

Highlights the act of providing reassurance, but in a passive way.

it was agreed upon

Focuses on the mutual understanding or consensus that was supposed to be upheld.

expectations were set

Highlights the raising of expectations, often by an external entity.

we anticipated

Focuses on the expectation, without necessarily implying a promise from someone else.

we counted on

Focuses on the reliance placed on a particular outcome or commitment.

FAQs

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

Use "we were promised" to express that something was assured or guaranteed to you or a group of people. For example, "We were promised that the project would be completed on time, but it's now delayed."

What is a more formal alternative to "we were promised"?

More formal alternatives include "we had been assured", or "we were guaranteed". For example, "We had been assured that all safety protocols were in place."

What is the difference between "we were promised" and "we were told"?

"We were told" simply indicates that information was conveyed, while "we were promised" implies a commitment or guarantee. Being told something does not carry the same expectation as being promised.

What are some synonyms for "we were promised" that convey disappointment?

To convey disappointment, you could use phrases like "we were led to believe", or "expectations were not met". For example, "We were led to believe the changes would improve the user experience."