we were terminated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were terminated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where individuals are discussing being dismissed from a job or position. Example: "After the company downsized, we were terminated without prior notice."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"I have no insights into why we were terminated," says the most recent chair, David Walt, a chemical biologist at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts.

Science Magazine

"I believe that we were terminated because we became very suspicious about the ways that many things were being handled at [the club] and because we began to ask questions about the books and records," wrote Morda in his 2014 affidavit.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"All I can say is we're terminating the contract".

The New York Times - Sports

According to Mr. Ostrowski, Mr. Taub said: "Bob, this is not going to be pleasant, but we are terminating you.

The New York Times

"Due to remarks of his that we consider unacceptable, we are terminating our relationship with Rush Limbaugh," Satan said in a tersely worded statement.

The New Yorker

We are terminating the Agreement because we are suspending our Partnership Program for all publishers.

TechCrunch

"The managers we fired were terminated because they started to deviate from their style and went into technology stocks and got whipsawed".

The New York Times

"We wanted to cover anyone whose ownership rights were terminated, but we had to narrow it to the people who were homesteaded," Sprowls said.

Los Angeles Times

Parental rights were terminated.

The New York Times

The other pregnancies were terminated, she said.

The New York Times

Jason Holding, James Wells and Christopher Sousa were terminated Friday.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "we were terminated", ensure the context is clear about who 'we' refers to, especially in formal writing. For example, "As members of the research team, we were terminated due to budget cuts".

Common error

Avoid using "we were terminated" without specifying the reason or the context. This can lead to confusion. For instance, instead of just stating "we were terminated", specify "we were terminated from our roles at the company after the merger".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were terminated" functions as a declarative statement indicating the end of employment or a contractual agreement for a group of individuals. Ludwig AI confirms its usability, and examples from news sources demonstrate its common use in reporting job losses.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we were terminated" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate the end of employment or a formal agreement for a group of people. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's usable in English writing, particularly in news and formal contexts. While alternatives like "we were let go" exist for a softer tone, "we were terminated" remains a direct way to convey the information. When using this phrase, clarity about who 'we' refers to and the reason for termination is crucial to avoid ambiguity. The expression maintains a generally neutral register, with its usage spanning across news, science, and wiki sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were let go

This is a more informal and common way to express termination from a job.

we were dismissed from our jobs

This alternative uses the word "dismissed", which is a slightly more formal synonym for "terminated".

our employment was ended

This alternative provides a more formal tone by focusing on the action taken on the employment rather than directly stating 'we'.

we were laid off

This alternative specifies that the termination was due to a layoff, often implying economic reasons.

we lost our positions

This alternative is less direct and emphasizes the loss of a job rather than the act of termination.

our contracts were not renewed

This alternative applies specifically when the end of employment is due to a contract expiring.

we were discharged from our duties

This is a more formal way of stating that employment has ended, often used in official contexts.

our services were no longer required

This alternative is a euphemistic way of saying the same thing, softening the impact.

we experienced job loss

This alternative focuses on the experience of losing employment.

we were given notice

This alternative focuses on the act of being informed of the termination.

FAQs

What does "we were terminated" mean?

The phrase "we were terminated" means that a group of people had their employment or contract ended by their employer. It implies a dismissal or discharge from a job or position.

What's a less direct way to say "we were terminated"?

Instead of "we were terminated", you could say "we were let go", "our employment was ended", or "we lost our positions" to soften the statement.

Is "we were terminated" formal or informal?

"We were terminated" is generally considered a neutral to formal way of describing the end of employment. More informal options include "we were let go" or "we lost our jobs".

What's the difference between "we were terminated" and "we were laid off"?

"We were terminated" is a general term for ending employment. "We were laid off" specifically implies that the job loss was due to economic reasons or restructuring, not performance issues.