we were scared

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "We were scared" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an emotion during a given situation, such as: "When the thunder and lightning began, we were scared."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

"Yes, we were scared.

The Economist

"Yeah, we were scared".

The New York Times

"But we were scared".

The New Yorker

Then we were scared".

The New Yorker

That's why we were scared.

The New York Times - Sports

(Ultimately we were scared off.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

Lord, we were scared," Crews said Sunday, shaking her head in her frontyard.

Los Angeles Times

I don;'t know if we were scared.

BBC

And yeah, we were scared and nervous".

The New York Times - Arts

"People asked if we were crazy, if we were scared.

Vice

"We were scared and wondering what was wrong.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we were scared" to convey a personal experience of fear, making your writing more relatable and immediate. It is especially effective in narratives and personal anecdotes.

Common error

While "we were scared" is perfectly acceptable, avoid using it in highly formal or professional documents where a more nuanced or sophisticated vocabulary might be expected. Instead, opt for alternatives like "we felt apprehensive" or "we experienced significant concern."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were scared" functions as a subjective description of a past emotional state. According to Ludwig AI, it is a correct and usable expression in written English. Examples from Ludwig show its use in conveying personal experiences and reactions to various events.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Academia

16%

Science

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we were scared" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to express fear experienced by a group. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Predominantly found in News & Media, but also present in Academic contexts, it serves to create relatable and immediate narratives. For formal writing, consider alternatives like "we felt apprehensive." Remember, while versatile, context is key to choosing the most appropriate phrasing. The large number of examples found by Ludwig suggests a widespread understanding and acceptance of this expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we felt afraid

Changes the verb to 'felt' while maintaining the core meaning of experiencing fear.

we were frightened

Replaces 'scared' with the synonym 'frightened', indicating a slightly heightened sense of fear.

we were terrified

Emphasizes a much stronger degree of fear than 'scared'.

we were petrified

Implies an extreme level of fear, almost to the point of being paralyzed.

we were anxious

Indicates a state of worry and unease, closely related to fear in certain situations.

we were apprehensive

Suggests a feeling of worry about something that might happen in the future.

fear gripped us

Uses a more figurative expression to describe the onset of fear.

we were in a state of fear

Uses a more formal and descriptive way to convey the feeling of being scared.

we panicked

Indicates a sudden and overwhelming feeling of fear that leads to loss of control.

we dreaded it

Focuses on anticipating something scary or unpleasant, expressing fear through anticipation.

FAQs

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

You can use "we were scared" to describe a feeling of fear experienced by a group of people, such as: "During the thunderstorm, "we were scared" and hid under the covers."

What are some alternatives to "we were scared"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "we felt afraid", "we were frightened", or "we were anxious".

Is it grammatically correct to say "we were scared"?

Yes, "we were scared" is grammatically correct. It uses the past tense of the verb "to be" with the adjective "scared" to describe a past state of being.

What's the difference between "we were scared" and "we were afraid"?

The phrases ""we were scared"" and "we were afraid" are often used interchangeably, as they express similar feelings of fear. "Scared" might suggest a more sudden or startling fear, while "afraid" can imply a more general or lingering sense of fear.