we were tried

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "we were tried" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which someone or a group of people were put on trial, such as in a court of law. For example: "We were tried for burglary and sentenced to five years in prison."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"Back in the '50s, when we were tried for obscenity for publishing Allen Ginsberg's 'Howl,' The Chronicle did a very honest, sympathetic job of covering that," said Lawrence Ferlinghetti, the poet and co-founder of City Lights bookstore, a local landmark.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"We were trying too hard.

BBC

But we were trying.

Forbes

"We were trying really hard".

Los Angeles Times

We were trying desperately.

Huffington Post

We were trying to be really brave.

Wikipedia

We were trying to give them hope.

BMC Public Health

We were trying to indicate the following.

eLife

"We're trying".

The New Yorker

"But we are trying.

Independent

We're trying to".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we were tried" to clearly indicate that a legal process occurred where you or a group were defendants. Ensure context clarifies the charge or reason for the trial.

Common error

Avoid using "we were tried" when you mean "we were tired". "Tried" refers to a legal process, while "tired" describes a state of fatigue. Ensure your spelling and context accurately reflect your intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were tried" functions as a passive voice construction indicating that the subject ('we') was the recipient of the action (being tried in a legal setting). Ludwig confirms the grammatical correctness and usability of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we were tried" is a phrase used to indicate that a legal trial occurred involving the speaker or a group they represent. While grammatically correct, as confirmed by Ludwig, it is relatively rare in usage. The phrase is primarily found in news and media contexts, serving to inform or narrate past legal experiences. When using this phrase, ensure clarity and context, and consider alternatives like "we faced trial" for similar but potentially more impactful phrasing. Ludwig AI highlights its correctness and use in describing legal proceedings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were put on trial

Synonymous replacement, emphasizing the commencement of legal proceedings.

we faced trial

Replaces 'were tried' with a more active verb construction, emphasizing the act of facing a trial.

we underwent trial

Emphasizes the process of enduring a trial, similar in meaning but slightly more formal.

we were subjected to a trial

Highlights the imposition of the trial upon the subject, adding a layer of passivity.

we stood trial

Focuses on the act of participating in the trial as a defendant.

a trial was held for us

Shifts the focus to the trial itself, emphasizing that it was conducted specifically for the group in question.

we were adjudicated

Focuses on the formal judgment or verdict delivered after a trial.

we defended ourselves in court

Highlights that the trial was against us and we were the defendants.

we were in court

This specifies the location of a trial

we encountered legal challenges

Describes facing problems with the law without explicitly referring to the proceedings.

FAQs

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

Use "we were tried" to indicate that you or a group of people underwent a legal trial. For example, "Back in the '50s, when "we were tried" for obscenity for publishing Allen Ginsberg's 'Howl,' The Chronicle did a very honest, sympathetic job of covering that."

What does "we were tried" mean?

"We were tried" signifies that a legal process was initiated against a group of people, and they were subjected to a trial to determine their guilt or innocence.

What's a more formal alternative to "we were tried"?

A more formal alternative could be "we underwent trial", which emphasizes the process of enduring a formal legal examination.

Is "we were tried" the same as "we were found guilty"?

No, ""we were tried"" simply means that a trial took place. It doesn't indicate the outcome. You could be tried and found innocent. "We were found guilty" indicates the result of the trial was a conviction.