when we were small

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "when we were small" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a time in the past when two or more people were younger. For example: "I can still remember going to the beach together when we were small."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

My mother read to us when we were small, and so did my dad.

The Guardian - Books

My parents, a scientist and a classical pianist, spoke Cantonese to each other, and to us, when we were small.

The New York Times - Style

My father came up with it — one of his many nonsensical phrases — when we were small, and he has used it ever since to address any or all of his four children, indiscriminately.

The New York Times

Phrases like "throughout my early life" and "when we were small" serve only to jar us out of a past that we've already been seeing, quite clearly, through the eyes of the little girl.

The New Yorker

Now that I have Maya, who is four, and Theo, I have the chance to witness my parents with them - a version of the relationship they had with us when we were small.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Those of us who remember dimly the terror, when we were small children ourselves, of clutching the hand of the wrong adult in a street or store will likewise have experienced a frisson when looking at the video pictures from the Bootle precinct.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Slater and I hated each other and we fought like cats and dogs when we were smaller.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

She says: "When we were smaller and had just 10 to 15 staff, and three ladies went on maternity leave within two months of each other, I thought the world was going to end.

The Guardian

Interviewee C reported an important concern related to company growth: they learned different benefits during the time of implementation, "The benefits were better perceived when we were smaller".

Journal of the Brazilian Computer Society

We tried the whole "office in New York" thing when we were smaller for credibility purposes, but we realized it just didn't really make sense for us.

Huffington Post

Then I read a book called The Growth Of The Mind, by Stanley Greenspan, which explains how we learn when we are small through our interaction with the world, and because of emotions.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "when we were small" to evoke a sense of nostalgia or to contrast past experiences with the present. This phrase is particularly effective when describing childhood memories or formative experiences.

Common error

Avoid using "when we were small" if the context refers to a period of time when you were simply younger adults rather than children. The phrase implies a significant difference in age and maturity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "when we were small" functions as an adverbial clause of time, modifying a main clause by specifying when an action or state occurred. This is verified through Ludwig's examples, where it introduces circumstances from the past.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "when we were small" functions as an adverbial clause of time, typically used to reference shared experiences from childhood. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used. While versatile, it is best suited for neutral to informal contexts. Alternatives like "in our youth" may be more appropriate for formal settings. The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media, with a notable presence in Scientific contexts. Using this phrase effectively involves understanding its implications of childhood and its ability to evoke nostalgia or create contrast with the present.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

when we were little

Replaces "small" with "little", maintaining the same meaning.

when we were younger

Direct synonym using a different form of the adjective.

during our younger days

A more descriptive and somewhat nostalgic way of saying the same thing.

in our childhood

Focuses on the period of childhood rather than a comparative size or scale.

back in our childhood days

Combines "childhood" with "days" for emphasis on the past.

in our early years

Emphasizes the initial stages of life.

in our youth

Highlights the youthfulness of the time period being referenced.

in our infancy

Specifically refers to the earliest stage of life, implying helplessness and dependence.

in our salad days

Refers to a time of youthful inexperience and naivety.

when we were knee-high to a grasshopper

An idiomatic expression indicating small size in childhood.

FAQs

How can I use "when we were small" in a sentence?

You can use "when we were small" to refer to shared experiences in childhood. For example, "I remember the games "when we were small"" or "When we were small, we used to visit our grandparents every summer."

What's a more formal alternative to "when we were small"?

In more formal contexts, consider using phrases like "in our youth" or "during our childhood years" as alternatives to "when we were small".

Is it appropriate to use "when we were small" in business writing?

Generally, "when we were small" is too informal for business writing unless you're deliberately trying to create a nostalgic or personal tone. In most cases, it's better to use more professional language.

What's the difference between "when we were small" and "when we were younger"?

"When we were small" typically implies childhood, whereas "when we were younger" can refer to any period in the past when you were younger than you are now. The term "when we were little" can be used interchangeably.