as was the practice

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as was the practice" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a customary or established way of doing something in the past. Example: "The committee made decisions based on consensus, as was the practice in previous meetings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

They will not be chosen by their congregations (as was the practice in the early church).

The New York Times

Tajiks did not line up Pashtuns and shoot them, as was the practice in many past transfers of power.

The New York Times

Thus, all business-related parties and meetings were forbidden, as was the practice of having a member's dues reimbursed by his firm.

The New Yorker

In 1935, he contributed to The Times's coverage of the death of Adolph S. Ochs, who was then its publisher -- unbylined, as was the practice at that time.

The New York Times

John enlisted in the Navy before finishing high school in San Diego but was still given a diploma, as was the practice during World War II.

The New York Times - Arts

And it has also not been axed to smithereens, as was the practice of Raphael Monta Ortiz, another Fluxus artist (and founder of El Museo del Barrio).

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

Each episode will be rerun several times, as is the practice at HBO.

The New York Times

No pleas were entered at this initial stage, as is the practice in Ireland.

The Guardian

The Fox shows will appear eight days after their TV airing, as is the practice at Hulu.com now.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Cars entering underground garages will have their trunks searched for explosives, as is the practice in Manila.

The New York Times - Magazine

This of course requires Mia to undergo a makeover, as is the practice in many high school movies.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as was the practice" when describing a past custom or procedure that is no longer necessarily in effect. This helps to provide historical context.

Common error

Avoid using "as was the practice" to describe current habits. This phrase indicates something that occurred regularly in the past but may not be happening now.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as was the practice" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a clause by providing context about a customary action or state in the past. It sets a scene by indicating the established way of doing things at a certain time.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

25%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "as was the practice" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote a customary action or state in the past. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's usability. Its presence is common in news, scientific, and encyclopedic writing. When using the phrase, ensure that it describes a custom from the past and not a current one; in that case, "as is the practice" is better suited. Some interchangeable alternatives are "as was customary", "as was typical", and "as was the norm".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as was customary

Replaces "practice" with "customary", indicating something done out of habit or tradition.

as was typical

Substitutes "practice" with "typical", suggesting something is representative or standard.

as was the norm

Replaces "practice" with "norm", implying something is a standard or accepted behavior.

as was the tradition

Substitutes "practice" with "tradition", indicating something passed down through generations.

in accordance with established procedure

Offers a more formal and lengthy alternative, emphasizing adherence to a set process.

following the usual method

Rephrases the idea to highlight the standard methodology employed.

as had been the habit

Similar meaning, but uses "habit" instead of "practice", indicating a repeated behavior.

in keeping with convention

Uses "convention" to highlight adherence to established norms and practices.

according to long-standing precedent

More formal, using "precedent" to emphasize the historical basis of the practice.

as things were generally done

This alternative emphasizes a general approach or manner of doing things.

FAQs

How can I use "as was the practice" in a sentence?

Use "as was the practice" to refer to a customary or established way of doing something in the past. For example, "The bride wore white, "as was the practice" in her culture."

What's a synonym for "as was the practice"?

Alternatives include "as was customary", "as was typical", or "as was the norm". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "as is the practice" instead of "as was the practice"?

Yes, "as is the practice" is correct when referring to a current custom. "As was the practice" refers to a past custom or procedure.

Can I use "as was the practice" to describe something that still happens today?

While grammatically correct, it's more fitting to use "as is the practice" for present customs. "As was the practice" implies the custom may have changed or no longer be common.