conceivably it was

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "conceivably it was" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when suggesting a possibility or hypothetical scenario. For example: "Conceivably it was the best decision they could have made." Alternative expressions include "possibly it was" and "perhaps it was."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Conceivably, it was the defining moment of the G.O.P. primaries.

The New Yorker

And that, conceivably, it was — to wrap up the argument — the spell cast by these two fragmentary, all but random enchantments of Astaire that prepared the way for "Pina," some months later, insuring that, as the year glided to a rest, it would be dance, rather than any other branch of endeavor, that would bring me the most supple joy in a cinema?

The New Yorker

Conceivably it was both.

Huffington Post

It is speculation as to which headland they saw; conceivably it was Cape Horn.

Wikipedia

Literally, if we took away the minimum wage -- if conceivably it was gone -- we could potentially virtually wipe out unemployment completely because we would be able to offer jobs at whatever level.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Conceivably it is the pace of entrepreneurial adaption that matters.

The Economist

Conceivably, it is in the national interest to persuade Negro leaders to set a slower pace, but the argument is one that does not permit of taking a high moral tone.

The New Yorker

Conceivably, it's only offering the application to large-volume Babylon-Enterprise corporate customers who will now be able to host Babylon's dictionary application locally on their own BB smartphones.

TechCrunch

Conceivably, it's because a public program would be subject to cost controls and consumer-friendly regulations, which are bad for medical-industrial profits.

Huffington Post

Conceivably, it is very important to investigate other biomolecules for their potential in safe and effective drug delivery.

Cell and Bioscience

Conceivably, it is the combination of enhanced transport activity and hypoxia that generates ROS, as most in vitro studies with renal cells or isolated nephron segments failed to demonstrate a direct impact of radiocontrast upon ROS generation.

BioMed Research International

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Place the phrase at the beginning of a sentence or after a semicolon to signal a new, speculative proposition clearly to the reader.

Common error

Do not pair "conceivably it was" with other words of uncertainty like 'possibly' or 'maybe' (e.g., 'conceivably it was maybe...'). This creates a pleonasm that weakens the authority of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "conceivably it was" serves as an adverbial sentence opener or parenthetical insertion that qualifies the following statement with a sense of possibility. In the examples provided by Ludwig, it functions to introduce a hypothesis that the author acknowledges as speculative but logically valid. The use of the adverb 'conceivably' modifies the entire clause, signaling that the identity or state described by 'it was' is one of several possible interpretations.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

40%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "conceivably it was" is a sophisticated linguistic tool used to introduce logical possibilities in formal writing. Ludwig AI identifies it as a correct and highly authoritative phrase, though it remains relatively rare compared to simpler alternatives. It is most effectively used in analytical contexts—such as scientific research or political commentary—where the writer needs to acknowledge that a particular conclusion is imaginable or possible without asserting it as an absolute fact. While you should avoid overusing it in casual conversation, it remains a powerful choice for adding nuance and intellectual depth to professional prose. As highlighted by Ludwig, the phrase's presence in top-tier publications underscores its reliability for writers seeking a high register of English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was conceivably

Inverts the order to place more emphasis on the subject rather than the degree of doubt.

perhaps it was

More common and slightly less formal than conceivably.

possibly it was

A direct synonym that focuses on statistical probability rather than conceptual logic.

it was potentially

Shifts the emphasis to the inherent capacity of the subject to have been something.

feasibly it was

Suggests that the scenario is not just possible but practically achievable or logical.

arguably it was

Adds a layer of subjective reasoning or debate to the possibility.

it could have been

A more common verbal construction for past possibility.

it may have been

A standard modal construction for expressing uncertainty in the past.

maybe it was

Significantly more informal and better suited for conversational speech.

presumably it was

Implies a possibility based on a likely assumption rather than pure speculation.

FAQs

How do I use "conceivably it was" in a sentence?

You can use it to introduce a theoretical explanation, such as: "Conceivably it was the change in weather that caused the delay."

What can I say instead of "conceivably it was"?

Depending on the tone, you can use "<a href="/s/perhaps+it+was" target="_blank" rel="alternative">perhaps it was", "<a href="/s/possibly+it+was" target="_blank" rel="alternative">possibly it was" or "<a href="/s/arguably+it+was" target="_blank" rel="alternative">arguably it was".

Is "conceivably it was" considered formal?

Yes, it is a formal construction. For less formal contexts, "<a href="/s/maybe+it+was" target="_blank" rel="alternative">maybe it was" is often preferred.

What is the difference between "conceivably it was" and "potentially it was"?

While similar, "<a href="/s/potentially+it+was" target="_blank" rel="alternative">potentially it was" often implies a capacity for future action or development, whereas "conceivably it was" focuses on whether the scenario can be logically imagined or understood.