we were wanting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were wanting" is not standard in written English and may sound awkward to some readers.
It can be used in informal contexts to express a desire or need in the past, but it is generally better to use more conventional phrasing. Example: "We were wanting to go to the concert, but the tickets were sold out."

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Now we were wanting one to be added.

The New Yorker

"We were wanting something good to come out of it".

The New York Times

What has happened was not what we were wanting from an Islamic government".

The Guardian

"We were wanting to make the most of internet access at home," says deputy head Tom Barret.

The Guardian

"With Off the Record, we weren't necessarily interested in making a statement about disability; we were wanting to challenge people's perceptions of society," says Channells.

The Guardian

"We were wanting this game in the worst way, but you're not going to beat New England, you're not going to beat many teams, when you make the mistakes that we made," Ryan said.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

They said we were wanted and produced a document.

The Guardian

It was a space where we were wanted.

Johns Hopkins University

It's three good points closer to where we're wanting to be.

BBC

We are wanting to reach net zero by 2050.

Vice

Shady spots, that's what we're wanting.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "we were wanting" is understandable, opt for the more common and grammatically standard "we wanted" in formal writing for clarity and conciseness.

Common error

Avoid using "we were wanting" in formal or professional documents. It can sound informal or even uneducated to some readers. Stick to "we wanted" or "we desired" for a more polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were wanting" functions as a verb phrase expressing a past desire or intention. As Ludwig AI points out, while understandable, it's not considered standard English. It's the past continuous form of "want", but its usage is debated.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "we were wanting" is used to express a past desire or intention, yet it is considered non-standard. While not grammatically incorrect, Ludwig AI and linguistic analysis suggest that it is more appropriate for informal conversation and less suitable for formal or professional writing. The examples provided by Ludwig show that it appears mainly in "News & Media". For greater clarity and impact, "we wanted" or other alternatives are generally preferred.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we wanted

More standard and concise way to express a past desire.

we desired

A more formal and emphatic way to express a past desire.

we were hoping

Expresses a wish or expectation about the past.

we had hoped

Similar to "we were hoping", emphasizing the past nature of the hope.

it was our wish

States the desire as a formal wish.

we were aiming

Indicates an intention to achieve something.

we intended

Similar to "we were aiming" but more direct.

we had the intention

Formal way of expressing a past intention.

we aspired

Expresses a strong desire or ambition.

our objective was

States the past objective or goal.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to use "we were wanting"?

While not strictly incorrect, "we were wanting" is considered non-standard. A more common and accepted alternative is "we wanted".

When is it appropriate to use "we were wanting"?

The phrase "we were wanting" is more appropriate in informal conversation. For formal writing, it's better to use alternatives such as "we desired" or "we hoped".

What's the difference between "we were wanting" and "we wanted"?

"We wanted" is a simple past tense expressing a past desire. "We were wanting" uses the past continuous, which can imply a desire that existed over a period. However, it is considered less standard. In most cases, "we wanted" is preferable.

What are some alternatives to "we were wanting" that sound more formal?

For more formal alternatives, consider using phrases like "we intended", "we desired", or "it was our wish". These options offer a more polished and professional tone.