as it was possible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as it was possible" is correct and can be used in written English.
You might use it to describe the best effort someone made, as in the following example: Jack worked hard to finish the project on time, doing as much as it was possible given the limited resources he had.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was a town, she later wrote, that "With its dust and hate and narrowness was as South as it was possible to get".

Independent

As soon as it was possible, it was obvious.

The Guardian - Opinion

"But he was a conservative — as conservative as it was possible to be in this time.

The New Yorker

But he played Nicholas Nickleby as well as it was possible for any actor to do.

The Guardian

Virtual devices must reproduce the behavior of their real-homonymous elements so much as it was possible.

Procedia Engineering

Here, as far from my childhood home as it was possible to be, he gazed out at me again.

The New York Times - Travel

Against that unsettled backdrop, Inter started their game about as poorly as it was possible to do.

The Guardian - Sport

She had lived about as happily as it was possible to live in the 20th century, for almost 95 years.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

For most of my life I was as monogamous as it was possible to be, almost to a fault.

The Guardian - Opinion

Boris Johnson was kept about as far from European matters as it was possible to be; and the tone has changed.

The Guardian - Opinion

And whatever the cause, they came to consider themselves, so far as it was possible with what has always been a virtually untreatable cancer, charmed.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as it was possible" to clearly indicate that an action or outcome was limited by specific circumstances or capabilities, ensuring readers understand the constraints involved.

Common error

Avoid using "as it was possible" in situations where simpler alternatives like "possibly" or "if possible" would suffice. Overuse can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as it was possible" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to specify the degree to which an action could be performed or a condition could be met. Ludwig shows examples where it highlights limitations or constraints.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

30%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "as it was possible" is grammatically sound and commonly used, according to Ludwig, primarily in news, scientific, and academic writing. It serves to indicate that an action or achievement was limited by specific conditions or capabilities. While acceptable in various contexts, it's best used when emphasizing constraints, avoiding overuse in simpler scenarios where "possibly" or "if possible" would suffice. Related phrases such as "to the extent feasible" offer alternative ways to express similar ideas. This phrase has a neutral to formal tone, suitable for professional and academic communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as much as could be done

Highlights the completion of actions under certain constraints.

as best as one could

Implies limitations or difficulties in completing a task.

to the extent feasible

Emphasizes practicality and achievability within limitations.

given the constraints

Directly acknowledges the limiting factors impacting the possibilities.

as fully as circumstances permitted

Highlights the influence of external factors on the degree of completion.

as far as practicable

Highlights the pragmatic aspects of what can be realistically done.

considering all limitations

Explicitly acknowledges the existence of restrictions and constraints.

within the realm of possibility

Focuses on whether something is achievable rather than what has been achieved.

to the fullest extent allowed

Emphasizes the permissible scope of action.

to the best of one's ability

Stresses the effort and capability brought to bear on a task.

FAQs

How can I use "as it was possible" in a sentence?

You can use "as it was possible" to describe an action that was performed to the fullest extent allowed by circumstances, such as, "They tried to help "as much as it was possible" given the limited resources".

What phrases are similar in meaning to "as it was possible"?

Similar phrases include "to the extent feasible", "as far as practicable", and "within the realm of possibility". Each emphasizes different aspects of feasibility and limitation.

Is it better to use "as it was possible" or a simpler alternative?

The choice depends on the context. "As it was possible" is appropriate when you want to emphasize constraints or limitations. Simpler alternatives like "possibly" or "if possible" may be preferable in less formal or complex situations.

What's the difference between "as much as possible" and "as it was possible"?

"As much as possible" refers to maximizing the quantity or degree of an action, while "as it was possible" refers to doing something to the fullest extent permitted by circumstances. For example, "We helped "as much as possible"" versus "We helped "as it was possible" given the restrictions".