essentially was

USAGE SUMMARY

"essentially was" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to emphasize the fundamental nature or essence of something in a past context. Example: "The project, essentially, was a failure despite initial optimism." Alternative expressions include "fundamentally was" and "basically was."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

McGuire's explanation, essentially, was carelessness.

The New Yorker

What you got, essentially, was an identity.

The New York Times

So, essentially, was Fiachra's, and everybody else's.

The New Yorker

That, essentially, was what Kidd and Mourning said Monday.

The New York Times - Sports

Bechtel essentially was given a license to make money.

The New York Times

The sport – lady gridiron in pants, essentially – was looking for new markets, reports the Hamilton Spectator.

The Guardian - Sport

Hays had a time of 3 37.12 in what essentially was a two-sled race.

The New York Times - Sports

The fear essentially was that it would get caught making money by cheating its customers.

The New York Times

The house was completed without the help of another apprentice; Dr. Wilson said he essentially was the general contractor.

The New York Times

What he said, essentially, was that Russia's problem historically has been the way it has used its wealth.

The Guardian - Opinion

This, essentially, was a solid team performance, even though Michael Burns, with his 83-ball 71, was a pivotal figure.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "essentially was" to clarify the underlying truth or core meaning when simplifying complex situations or ideas.

Common error

Avoid using "essentially was" in sentences that are already straightforward and clear. Overusing it can make your writing sound redundant and less impactful.

Linguistic Context

Grammatically, "essentially was" functions as a linking phrase that connects a subject with its simplified or core description. It suggests a reduction of complexity to its most important element. Ludwig provides numerous examples of its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Essentially was" is a versatile phrase used to simplify and clarify past situations or concepts. Ludwig highlights its grammatical correctness and widespread usage, particularly in news, scientific, and general contexts. It serves to distill complex topics down to their core elements, offering clarity and focus. When writing, use "essentially was" to succinctly convey the fundamental nature of a subject. The related phrases provide nuanced alternatives to emphasize specific aspects of the core meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in essence was

Rephrases to include "in essence", further clarifying the fundamental nature.

was fundamentally

Replaces "essentially" with "fundamentally" emphasizing the basic or core aspect.

was basically

Substitutes "essentially" with "basically", indicating a simple or straightforward explanation.

was primarily

Replaces "essentially" with "primarily", highlighting the main or most important aspect.

was largely

Changes "essentially" to "largely", suggesting that something was mostly or to a great extent something else.

was mainly

Swaps "essentially" for "mainly", denoting the principal component or focus.

boiled down to

Uses a more idiomatic expression to indicate the core element or result.

at its heart was

Emphasizes the central or most important part of something.

amounted to

Uses a verb phrase to convey the result or total effect of something.

the crux of the matter was

Emphasizes the most important point or difficulty.

FAQs

How can I use "essentially was" in a sentence?

Use "essentially was" to simplify a complex situation or idea down to its core components. For example, "The problem, essentially, was a lack of communication."

What are some alternatives to "essentially was"?

You can use alternatives like "was fundamentally", "was basically", or "was primarily" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it okay to start a sentence with "essentially"?

Yes, it's grammatically correct and stylistically acceptable to start a sentence with "essentially". It's often used to introduce a summary or core concept.

What's the difference between "essentially was" and "in essence was"?

While both phrases convey a similar meaning, "in essence was" places a stronger emphasis on the inherent nature or underlying truth, whereas "essentially was" is a slightly more general way to simplify a situation.