were not aware

USAGE SUMMARY

'were not aware' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to express that somebody had no knowledge of something. For example: We were not aware that the store was closing down until we read the announcement.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They were not aware.

The Guardian - Sport

police were not aware of this.

The New Yorker

In general, they were not aware.

The New York Times

We were not aware of that.

The Telegraph

Subjects were not aware to which group they belonged.

International Journal of Psychophysiology

Many were not aware that their companies had leave policies.

The New York Times

The MPs said they were not aware of the rally.

The Guardian - Opinion

Their daughters were not aware of this as children.

The Guardian - Arts

"Senior management were not aware," the Barclays submission says.

The Guardian - Business

The police, however, were not aware and took no action.

The Guardian

"Before we started it people were not aware," Sithole says.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were not aware", ensure the context clearly indicates what the subject was unaware of. This avoids ambiguity and ensures the sentence is easily understood.

Common error

A common mistake is to use singular forms like "was not aware" when referring to plural subjects. Always ensure the verb form agrees with the subject; use "were not aware" for plural subjects.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were not aware" functions as a predicative adjective phrase, modifying a subject to indicate a state of lacking knowledge or consciousness regarding a specific fact, situation, or piece of information. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were not aware" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that expresses a lack of knowledge or awareness. As Ludwig AI points out, it's a correct and usable expression in English writing. It commonly appears in news, scientific, and academic contexts, showcasing its versatility. When using this phrase, make sure that your subject-verb agreement is correct and that your context clearly indicates what someone lacked awareness of. Related phrases, such as "had no knowledge of" and ""didn't realize"", offer alternative ways to convey similar meanings with varying degrees of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were unaware

A more concise and direct synonym, omitting the 'not' for simpler phrasing.

had no knowledge of

Replaces "were not aware" with a more formal expression indicating a lack of information.

were ignorant of

Suggests a lack of awareness, often implying a lack of education or information.

were oblivious to

Indicates a lack of awareness, often suggesting that the information was available but unnoticed.

were unconscious of

Implies a deeper lack of awareness, as if the information was beyond their perception.

were in the dark about

An idiomatic expression indicating a lack of information or understanding.

didn't realize

A simpler, more conversational way of saying "were not aware".

had no idea

An informal expression indicating a complete lack of awareness.

failed to notice

Focuses on the act of not perceiving something that was present.

were uninformed about

Highlights the lack of information provided to the subjects.

FAQs

How can I use "were not aware" in a sentence?

The phrase "were not aware" indicates a lack of knowledge. For example, "The students "were not aware" of the upcoming test until the teacher announced it".

What's a more formal way to say "were not aware"?

A more formal alternative is "had no knowledge of". For instance, instead of saying "They "were not aware" of the risks", you could say "They had no knowledge of the potential risks".

What can I say instead of "were not aware" in a casual conversation?

In a casual setting, you can use phrases like "didn't realize" or "had no idea". For example, "I "didn't realize" the store closed so early" is a simple alternative to "I "were not aware" of the store's closing time".

Is there a subtle difference between "were not aware" and "were unaware"?

While both phrases convey a lack of knowledge, "were unaware" (/s/were+unaware) is a more concise and direct synonym. "Were not aware" can sometimes emphasize the process of not gaining knowledge, whereas "were unaware" simply states the lack of awareness as a condition.