we were supporting

USAGE SUMMARY

"we were supporting" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is the past continuous tense of the verb "support" and is used to describe an action or state that was ongoing in the past. Example: We were supporting our colleague's decision to take a risk and start her own business.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

"We were supporting Beats International: Norman Cook and Lindy Layton.

The Guardian - Music

"We were supporting this man Osama bin Laden.

The Guardian

"It was the same for her, and we were supporting each other".

The New Yorker

There was not much talking, but still we were supporting each other.

The Guardian

"We could work in many fields and we were supporting each other.

The New York Times

"We were not supporting an outcome or a party, but we were supporting the process".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

"It felt like we were supported and cared for".

Vice

We were given what we needed, and we were supported.

BMC Health Services Research

We're supporting that".

The New York Times

We are supporting it".

The New York Times - Arts

"We are supporting him".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "we were supporting", ensure the context clearly indicates who "we" refers to and what was being supported. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the clarity of your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "we were supporting" without specifying the object or cause being supported. For instance, instead of saying "We were supporting", specify "We were supporting the new initiative" to provide complete information.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were supporting" functions as a verb phrase indicating a past continuous action. It specifies that a group ("we") was actively providing assistance, endorsement, or resources to someone or something over a period of time. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating this.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Formal & Business

12%

Science

9%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "we were supporting" is a grammatically sound and commonly used verb phrase indicating an ongoing action of providing aid, advocacy, or resources in the past. Ludwig's AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides numerous examples from reputable sources, such as The New York Times and The Guardian, where it appears frequently. The phrase typically functions to convey past actions of backing a cause, justifying decisions, or explaining prior situations. It maintains a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal contexts. While "we were supporting" is widely applicable, clarity can be improved by explicitly stating who "we" refers to and what was being supported.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were aiding

Replaces "supporting" with "aiding", suggesting a more direct form of assistance.

we were assisting

Uses "assisting" instead of "supporting", highlighting the act of helping.

we were backing

Substitutes "supporting" with "backing", implying endorsement or giving confidence.

we were advocating

Replaces "supporting" with "advocating", which suggests actively promoting a cause or idea.

we were championing

Uses "championing" in place of "supporting", indicating strong and public support.

we were endorsing

Replaces "supporting" with "endorsing", implying formal approval or recommendation.

we were promoting

Substitutes "supporting" with "promoting", highlighting efforts to increase awareness or acceptance.

we were upholding

Replaces "supporting" with "upholding", suggesting maintaining or defending something.

we were fostering

Uses "fostering" instead of "supporting", which implies nurturing or encouraging something to grow.

we were facilitating

Replaces "supporting" with "facilitating", indicating making something easier or more likely to happen.

FAQs

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

Use "we were supporting" to describe an action of providing assistance, approval, or encouragement that was ongoing in the past. For example, "We were supporting the local charity with regular donations".

What are some alternatives to "we were supporting"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "we were aiding", "we were assisting", or "we were backing".

Is it correct to say "we are supporting" instead of "we were supporting"?

The choice between "we are supporting" and "we were supporting" depends on the timeframe. "We are supporting" indicates present action, while "we were supporting" refers to an action that was ongoing in the past. For example, "we are supporting the campaign now" versus "we were supporting the campaign last year".

What's the difference between "we supported" and "we were supporting"?

"We supported" indicates a completed action in the past, whereas "we were supporting" suggests an ongoing action in the past. For example, "we supported the team last year" implies a one-time or finished action, while "we were supporting the team throughout the season" implies ongoing support.