we were working on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were working on" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is a form of the verb "to work," and is used to talk about ongoing activity in the past. For example, you might say "We were working on the project all last week, and finally finished it yesterday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

A vast majority of everything we were working on has become real".

The New York Times

We were working on a scene together and I got sick one day.

The New Yorker

"We were working on Pascal's triangle," he explains.

The Guardian

We were working on keeping the putter low.

The New York Times - Sports

"We were working on the last stretch," he said.

The New York Times

We were working on far too many cool things.

MIT Technology Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

We're working on it".

The New York Times

We're working on this".

The New Yorker

"We are working on this.

The New York Times

We are working on that".

The New York Times - Tech

"We're working on dialing it back".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing past collaborative efforts, "we were working on" effectively communicates shared responsibility and activity.

Common error

Avoid using "we worked on" when you intend to convey an ongoing or incomplete action in the past. "We worked on" suggests a completed task, whereas "we were working on" implies the task was in progress at a specific time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were working on" functions as a verb phrase indicating an ongoing action in the past. Ludwig's examples show it's used to describe projects, tasks, or activities that were in progress.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

18%

Science

15%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we were working on" is a grammatically correct and widely used verb phrase to describe ongoing activities in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples across diverse contexts, from news and media to academic and scientific domains. The phrase serves to inform about past engagements, and it functions well in neutral to professional registers. When describing the completion of a task, use "we worked on" instead.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were developing

Focuses on the developmental aspect of the work.

we were developing something

This adds the word "something" at the end to emphasize that we were developing a tangible object or concept.

we were creating

Highlights the creation or making of something.

we labored on

Replaces "working" with "labored", emphasizing effort and exertion.

we were building

Similar to "constructing", but can also refer to building relationships or ideas.

we toiled on

Uses "toiled" instead of "working", suggesting diligent and persistent effort.

we were constructing

Suggests building or assembling something.

we were undertaking

Emphasizes the act of taking on a task or project.

we were engaged in

Highlights involvement and participation in an activity.

we were occupied with

Focuses on the state of being busy with something.

FAQs

How can I use "we were working on" in a sentence?

You can use "we were working on" to describe a past, ongoing activity. For example, "We were working on the presentation all afternoon, but we didn't finish it."

What's the difference between "we were working on" and "we worked on"?

"We were working on" indicates an action in progress, while "we worked on" suggests a completed task. For example, "We were working on the report when the power went out" versus "We worked on the report last week and finished it."

What are some alternatives to "we were working on"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "we were developing", "we were creating", or "we were building".

Is "we were working on" appropriate for formal writing?

Yes, "we were working on" is suitable for both formal and informal writing. It is a grammatically correct and widely understood phrase. You can use this without issues in any context.