we'Re' (we're) etc

Writers often mix we're (we are) and were (past of be) because an apostrophe or a time reference changes the meaning. Below are quick checks, clear rules, lots of copyable wrong/right pairs, rewrite templates, and real-life examples you can use at work, school, or in casual messages.

If you want a fast fix: expand the contraction, scan for past-time words, and read the whole sentence to confirm tense and tone.

Quick answer

Use we're (we are) for present or ongoing actions and plans. Use were for past events or the subjunctive (hypotheticals). If the sentence has a past marker (yesterday, last week, ago), choose were. If you can expand we're to "we are" and the sentence still makes sense, keep the contraction.

we're = we are (present/progressive or immediate plan). Example: We're leaving now.
were = past tense of be or subjunctive. Example: We were late yesterday. / If we were you, we'd ask first.
Quick test: expand the contraction to "we are." If it fits the time frame, it's correct; otherwise use were.

Core explanation

An apostrophe tells you letters were omitted: we're = we + are. Were is two separate words and marks past time or a counterfactual suggestion. Confusion usually comes from hearing a phrase in speech and guessing the written form.

Contraction vs. two-word past: one uses an apostrophe and present tense, the other is past or subjunctive.
Reported speech often moves verbs back: "We were going to call" (past) vs. "We're going to call" (present).
Read the whole sentence to catch time cues and reported vs. current plans.

Spacing, hyphenation, and related grammar

Most errors are spacing mistakes (writing a phrase as a single, split, or hyphenated form that doesn't belong). For we're vs. were, the common spacing error is dropping the auxiliary verb ("we were") or removing the apostrophe from "we're."

Don't write were as we're without the apostrophe when the meaning is present/progressive.
Avoid creating hyphenated forms (we're-going) - English doesn't hyphenate this construction.
When unsure, favor the standard two-word past (we were) if a past time is implied.

Real usage: work, school, and casual examples

Seeing the forms in context helps them stick. Below are natural sentences showing either we're or were used correctly.

Work: We're meeting the client at 10. / We were meeting weekly before the merger.
Work: We're finalizing the report today. / We were finalizing the report when the server crashed.
Work: We're planning a phased rollout. / We were planning the rollout last quarter.
School: We're studying Chapter 7 tonight. / We were studying the theory all semester.
School: We're presenting our project tomorrow. / We were presenting the earlier draft when the projector failed.
School: We're meeting at the library. / We were meeting every week last term.
Casual: We're grabbing coffee-want to join? / We were grabbing coffee when the rain started.
Casual: We're watching a movie later. / We were watching the series before it was cancelled.
Casual: We're thinking of going hiking this weekend. / We were thinking of camping last month.

Try your own sentence

Test the full sentence, not just the phrase. Expand the contraction, add or move a time word, and then read for meaning and tone.

Wrong vs right examples you can copy

Copy these corrected pairs into your drafts. They make the error visible and are quick to apply.

Wrong: The migration looks We're by Friday.
Right: The migration looks like we're done by Friday.
Wrong: The migration looks We by Friday.
Right: The migration looks like we were done by Friday.
Wrong: The final draft seems We're with one more revision.
Right: The final draft seems we're ready with one more revision.
Wrong: The final draft seems We with one more revision.
Right: The final draft seems we were ready with one more revision.
Wrong: Dinner at six is We're for me.
Right: Dinner at six is fine-we're available then.
Wrong: Dinner at six is We for me.
Right: Dinner at six is fine-we were free earlier, too.

How to fix your own sentence (rewrite help)

Fixing tense errors often requires more than a find-and-replace. Follow these steps and use the rewrite templates below.

Step 1: Decide whether the action is present/ongoing (we're) or past/hypothetical (were).
Step 2: Expand contractions to test meaning: replace we're with "we are."
Step 3: Reread the sentence for tone and make small edits if needed.

Rewrite 1: Original: Is that We this afternoon? →
Rewrite: Is that we're meeting this afternoon?
Rewrite 2: Original: The assignment feels We now. →
Rewrite: The assignment feels like we're on track now.
Rewrite 3: Original: This plan is We if everyone stays late. →
Rewrite: This plan works-we're on track if everyone stays late. Alternatively: This plan was going to work if everyone stayed late.

A simple memory trick

Connect the correct form to meaning rather than spelling. Picture "we're" as a single present action and "we were" as two words marking past time.

If you hear a present plan, imagine "we are." If it feels like a past event, imagine "we were."
Search your drafts for the incorrect spacing or missing apostrophes and fix them in bulk.

Similar mistakes to watch for

Once you make one spacing or contraction error, similar problems tend to appear nearby. Scan your text for related issues.

you're vs your
it's vs its
they're vs there vs their
verb-form mismatches (we were vs we went)

FAQ

How do I know if it's we're or were?

Check the time frame. Present plans and ongoing actions take we're (we are). Past events and hypotheticals take were. Look for words like yesterday, last week, or ago to signal past tense.

Can "we were going" and "we're going" both be correct?

Yes. "We're going" (we are going) is present or planned. "We were going" places the action in the past or appears in reported speech: "We were going to call, but the line was busy."

Is "we're" ever past tense?

No. "We're" is short for "we are" and is present/progressive. Use "we were" for past tense or change the verb to the simple past if needed (we went).

Why didn't my grammar checker catch this mistake?

Checkers can miss errors when sentences lack clear time markers or when context is brief. Add a time word or expand contractions before running a check again.

What's a fast fix when I'm unsure?

Expand the contraction: replace we're with "we are." If that clashes with past markers, change to were or rewrite the sentence into a simple past (we went). Moving a time marker to the start (e.g., "Last week, we...") often clarifies tense quickly.

Quick tip to avoid future errors

When editing, ask two questions: (1) Is there a past time word? (2) Can I honestly say "we are" in this sentence? If the answers disagree, change to were or rewrite the sentence in the past. Fixing three examples now-copying correct lines into your text-usually clears most cases.