we were very touched by

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "we were very touched by" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when someone has done something meaningful or kind for you. For example, "We were very touched by the gift you gave us for our wedding."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Finnigan said: "When we announced our decision to leave our current television series after seven years, we were very touched by the number of people - friends, family, guests, viewers and broadcasters - who told us how much they wanted to see us continuing making programmes together".

The Guardian

Finnigan said: "When we announced our decision to leave our current television series after seven years, we were very touched by the number of people – friends, family, guests, viewers and broadcasters – who told us how much they wanted to see us continuing making programmes together".

Independent

He wrote back, saying: "We were very touched by the call of Rabbi Jacob.

HuffPost

When Scott and Mark reached out to us, we were very touched by their story, we're sure you will be too.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

We need to collectively create a space to go beyond the crisis, to battle together for social change "We are very touched by the international solidarity since the catastrophe.

Huffington Post

"We have been very touched by the kind words," the statement said.

The Guardian

"We have been very touched by the generosity shown to us which is testament to the affection in which the Mackintosh Library was held by so many".

BBC

We have also been very touched by the effort others go to, to accommodate the boys' needs.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

We have been passing on as many as we can and Andrew and his family have been very touched by the warm and generous response to his illness.

BBC

And I was very touched by the fact that after we exhausted everybody in the medical department, surgeons, orthopaedics people, gynaecologists, even ophthalmologists came to help us".

BBC

I was very touched by that and surprised how easily we fell back into the groove musically.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using this phrase, be specific about what you are touched by to convey the depth of your appreciation and make your message more impactful.

Common error

Avoid using "we were very touched by" in highly formal or business communications where a more direct expression of gratitude (e.g., "we appreciate") might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were very touched by" primarily functions as an expression of gratitude or appreciation. It indicates that the speaker or writer has been positively affected emotionally by something someone has done or said, as Ludwig examples show.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "we were very touched by" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to convey gratitude or appreciation. Ludwig examples confirm its usage across various platforms. While the phrase is suitable for many contexts, including news and media and academia, it may require adjustments for more formal communications. Consider using alternatives such as "we were deeply moved by" or "we greatly appreciated" to tailor your message to the specific audience and situation. Always be specific about what you're touched by to maximize the emotional impact of your message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were deeply moved by

Emphasizes a stronger emotional impact than "touched".

we felt so appreciative of

Emphasizes a feeling of deep thankfulness.

we were very grateful for

Highlights the feeling of thankfulness for something received.

we were extremely appreciative of

Emphasizes a great gratefulness.

we were deeply thankful for

Emphasizes a great thankfulness and moves the focus to the 'thankful' adjective.

we were so thankful for

Expresses a heartfelt gratitude.

we were extremely thankful for

Emphasizes a great thankfulness.

we greatly appreciated

Focuses on the act of valuing and recognizing something.

we were awfully grateful for

Awfully is a synonym for very and is a little bit more outdated

we were really impressed by

Highlights admiration and respect for something.

FAQs

What does "we were very touched by" mean?

It means experiencing a strong feeling of gratitude, appreciation, or emotion due to someone's kind actions, words, or gestures. It expresses that you were moved in a positive way.

What can I say instead of "we were very touched by"?

You can use alternatives like "we were deeply moved by", "we greatly appreciated", or "we felt so appreciative of" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "we were very touched by" in a formal email?

While generally acceptable, in very formal settings, consider using stronger or more direct expressions of gratitude such as "we are extremely grateful for" or "we deeply appreciate".

How can I make the phrase "we were very touched by" more impactful?

Be specific about what you are referring to. Instead of just saying "we were very touched by your gesture", say "we were very touched by your thoughtful gesture of sending flowers during our difficult time".