were conscious of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were conscious of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate awareness or acknowledgment of something in the past. Example: "They were conscious of the challenges ahead and prepared accordingly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Both sides were conscious of the potential for nuclear holocaust.

The Guardian - Opinion

The economic disparities you were conscious of were quite muted.

The New York Times - Magazine

When we sat together we were conscious of this.

The New York Times

We have been caught on the counter-attacks before and we were conscious of that.

The Guardian - Sport

From the start, the police were conscious of media involvement in the inquiry.

The Guardian

Abbott said the French were conscious of the "blood debt" owed to Australia.

The Guardian

"We were conscious of this public perception in making our recommendations".

The New York Times - Science

You were conscious of the fact that television was a new thing and very special.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"We were conscious of trying to make it not seem grandiose.

The New York Times

The women gathered Friday at a restored downtown arts facility were conscious of it as well.

The New York Times

He said the cadets were conscious of Israel's social divide and how it could affect the army.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were conscious of" to express awareness of a specific fact, situation, or feeling in the past. It implies a state of being aware and taking something into consideration.

Common error

Avoid confusing "conscious", which means aware, with "conscience", which refers to a sense of morality. For example, "They were conscious of the noise" is correct, whereas "They acted against their conscience" uses the correct term for moral judgment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were conscious of" functions as a predicate adjective expressing a state of awareness or recognition. It describes the subject's condition of being cognizant of something, as supported by Ludwig's examples showcasing various contexts of use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

34%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were conscious of" is a versatile phrase used to express awareness or recognition of something in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and frequently used, particularly in news, media and science contexts. When writing, remember to use "of" instead of other prepositions and consider alternatives like "were aware of" or "were mindful of" to add variety. The phrase is suitable for neutral to formal contexts and effectively communicates a state of cognizance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were aware of

This alternative is more direct and simply indicates knowledge or perception.

were cognizant of

This alternative is more formal and suggests a deeper, more informed awareness.

were mindful of

This alternative emphasizes being attentive to or considerate of something.

were sensible of

This alternative is more formal and indicates a clear understanding or perception.

were alert to

This alternative highlights being watchful and ready to react to something.

had knowledge of

This alternative is a more basic way of expressing awareness or information about something.

were informed about

This alternative emphasizes receiving information about something.

took notice of

This alternative focuses on observing or paying attention to something.

paid attention to

This alternative stresses giving focus and consideration to something.

were alive to

This alternative means being keenly aware or sensitive to something, often a potential problem or opportunity.

FAQs

What does "were conscious of" mean?

The phrase "were conscious of" means that someone was aware or cognizant of something. It indicates an awareness of a fact, feeling, or situation.

How can I use "were conscious of" in a sentence?

You can use "were conscious of" to indicate that someone had knowledge or awareness of something. For example: "They "were conscious of" the risks involved."

What are some alternatives to "were conscious of"?

Some alternatives to "were conscious of" include "were aware of", "were mindful of", or "were cognizant of".

Is it correct to say "were conscious to" instead of "were conscious of"?

No, the correct preposition to use with "were conscious" in this context is "of". "Were conscious to" is grammatically incorrect.