we were told by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were told by" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that information was received from a specific source or person. Example: "We were told by the manager that the meeting has been rescheduled for next week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"We were told by our sports psychologist to put it away, it's one result.

The Guardian - Sport

We were told by Mrs. Vollweiler that it is the state's most popular Connecticut-produced wine.

The New York Times

We were told by the Thatcherites of the 80s that wealth would trickle down.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Ebola is here," we were told by the media, "and it's coming to get you".

The Guardian - Books

We were told by our mother that our father died searching for truth.

The New Yorker

We were told by those involved in negotiations with the kidnappers that release was imminent.

Independent

We were told by friends not to stop because they will take you back to Turkey.

Independent

"But once the environmental process began, we were told by our attorney that we could not comment," Mrs. Dean said.

The New York Times

"We were told by more than one place that it was too female, which was shocking," Moss says.

The Guardian

"We were told by construction engineers that the building could collapse at any point," Mr. Zwilling said.

The New York Times

"We were told by the M.T.A. we don't know how to read their balance sheets," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Vary your sentence structure. While "we were told by" is acceptable, overuse can make your writing monotonous. Use alternatives like "according to" or "we learned from" to add variety.

Common error

Avoid using "we were told by" excessively in contexts where an active voice would be more direct and engaging. For instance, instead of "We were told by the manager that the project is delayed", consider "The manager informed us that the project is delayed."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were told by" functions as a reporting clause, introducing information received from a specified source. It attributes the subsequent statement to the source mentioned after the "by". Ludwig AI confirms this is commonly used to relay information.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "we were told by" is a common and grammatically sound way to attribute information to a source, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. It's most frequently used in News & Media, and Science contexts. To enhance writing, consider varying sentence structure with alternatives like "according to" or "we learned from". Ensure the source is credible to bolster your statement's reliability, and be mindful of overusing passive voice. Overall, "we were told by" is a versatile tool for relaying information when used judiciously and with attention to context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were informed by

Replaces "told" with the more formal "informed", suitable for professional or official contexts. It emphasizes the act of conveying information.

we learned from

Replaces "told" with "learned", focusing on the acquisition of information rather than the act of communication. It suggests a broader range of sources, not necessarily direct communication.

according to

A concise way to attribute information to a source, suitable for various contexts.

we heard from

Uses "heard" to indicate receiving information, often implying a less formal or direct source than "told".

we received information from

A more verbose alternative that emphasizes the reception of information from a specified source.

it was communicated to us by

A formal and passive construction that highlights the communication process and the source.

we gathered from

Suggests inferring information from various sources rather than direct communication.

sources indicated that

Shifts the focus to the sources themselves rather than the act of being told. It's more indirect.

we understood from

Emphasizes the interpretation of information received, rather than the act of being told.

the report stated

Suitable when the information source is a written document, like a report.

FAQs

How can I use "we were told by" in a sentence?

Use "we were told by" to indicate the source of information. For example, "We were told by the doctor that the treatment was successful."

What are some alternatives to "we were told by"?

Alternatives include "we learned from", "according to", or "we were informed by", depending on the context.

Is it better to use "we were told by" or "we learned from"?

The best choice depends on the nuance you want to convey. "We were told by" suggests direct communication, while "we learned from" can imply a broader range of sources or indirect acquisition of information.

How formal is the phrase "we were told by"?

The phrase "we were told by" is generally neutral in formality and suitable for various contexts, but "we were informed by" might be preferable in more formal settings.