we were retiring

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were retiring" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of leaving a job or position, typically after a long period of service, often in a formal or semi-formal context. Example: "After decades of dedicated service, we were retiring from our positions at the company, ready to embrace a new chapter in our lives."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"Both Jack and I said we were retiring at 35," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

It's true, Player said: "Jack and I said we were retiring at 35, we had won the Grand Slam and that was it, we had enough.

The New York Times

I laid out our finances as if we were retiring and we decided to have my wife go and get her MBA so that she could get a good job if and when I died.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"Even though we were retired and starving, we had to work for the Party.

The New Yorker

We are retiring or retirees.

The New York Times

"But what we are retiring are the venue and title.

The New York Times - Arts

"We're retiring your jersey today," Mr. Dodd said.

The New York Times

"So during this lull in the action, we are retiring systems and integrating things," she says.

The Economist

Confirming the split on their website, the band said in a statement: "we are retiring from the game.

Independent

Is there a way to rework our space so that we can use it, but still make our child feel welcome? 2. We are retiring.

The New York Times

"We are retiring and advancing at the same time," wrote another of Jackson's men, "a condition an army never undertook before".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "we were retiring", ensure the context clearly indicates who "we" refers to and what "retiring" means in that specific situation (e.g. from a job, a project, a location).

Common error

Avoid using "we were retiring" when the retirement is still being considered or planned. Use phrases like "we are considering retiring" or "we plan to retire" instead to accurately reflect the timeline.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were retiring" functions as a statement about a past action or state. Ludwig AI indicates its correctness, and it describes the process of concluding one's active career or involvement in a specific activity or role.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "we were retiring" is grammatically sound and used to describe a past event where a group of people were in the process of ending their career or involvement in something. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, and it commonly appears in "News & Media" and "Science" contexts. When using this phrase, ensure clarity about who "we" refers to and from what they were retiring. Consider alternative phrases like "we planned to retire" or "we decided to retire" to better suit the specific nuance you intend to convey. Avoid using it when retirement is only under consideration; use present or future tenses in those cases.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we planned to retire

Focuses on the planning stage of retirement.

we intended to retire

Emphasizes the initial intention to retire.

we were about to retire

Highlights the imminence of the retirement action.

we considered retiring

Indicates that retirement was under consideration but not necessarily finalized.

we decided to retire

Stresses the decision-making aspect of retirement.

we were in the process of retiring

Highlights the ongoing nature of the retirement transition.

we were getting ready to retire

Suggests preparation for retirement.

we had retirement in mind

Emphasizes that retirement was a goal or consideration.

we were nearing retirement

Indicates approaching the time of retirement.

we anticipated retiring

Focuses on expecting to retire in the future.

FAQs

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

Use "we were retiring" to describe a past action of leaving a job, role, or position. For example, "After 30 years of service, we were retiring from the company".

What are some alternatives to "we were retiring"?

Alternatives include phrases like "we planned to retire", "we intended to retire", or "we were about to retire". Consider "we decided to retire" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "we are retiring" or "we were retiring"?

Both are correct but have different meanings. "We are retiring" indicates a present or near-future action, while "we were retiring" describes a past event. If you are retiring now or soon, use "we are retiring". If you are talking about something that happened in the past, use "we were retiring".

What's the difference between "we retired" and "we were retiring"?

"We retired" indicates the completion of the act of retiring. "We were retiring" describes the process or period when the act of retiring was taking place. For example, "We retired last year" versus "We were retiring at the end of the fiscal year".