is was

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is was" is not correct and usable in written English.
It appears to be a grammatical error, as "is" and "was" are both forms of the verb "to be" but cannot be used together in this manner. Example: "The statement is was unclear."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

Chiles is, was, football.

Independent

It is — was — an identity.

The New York Times

"The question is, was Antonin​ Scalia​ murdered?

Independent

I think they thought is was funny.

The New Yorker

Spank is (was) a legend.

The Guardian - Music

SECOND HUSBAND His name is — was — Roland Secourt.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

All this is - was - true to life.

The Guardian - Film

Reporting is/was/and always will be Newsweek's strength.

Huffington Post

But is/was she really?

The New Yorker

What is/was punk cinema?

The Guardian - Music

Gatehouse is/was Glickman's superior – his 'controller'controller

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you intend to use a form of the verb "to be", double-check whether the context requires the present tense ("is") or the past tense ("was"). Avoid combining them directly unless you're deliberately creating a non-standard construction for stylistic effect.

Common error

Avoid accidentally combining present and past tenses. Instead of writing or saying "is was", carefully consider whether you should use "is" for the present or "was" for the past to maintain grammatical correctness and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is was" is generally grammatically incorrect as it combines the present and past tenses of the verb "to be". Ludwig AI indicates it as a grammatical error and suggests alternative correct usages.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

35%

Academia

26%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is was" is generally considered grammatically incorrect due to its combination of present and past tenses. Although Ludwig presents several examples of its use across various online sources, its occurrence often indicates an error or non-standard usage. As pointed out by Ludwig AI, careful consideration should be given to selecting the appropriate tense ("is" or "was") to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity. While it might appear in informal contexts or for stylistic effect, it's best to avoid "is was" in formal writing and speech. Alternatives like "it is" or "it was" are preferable depending on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is what it was

Reorders the words to create a valid phrase indicating acceptance of a past situation.

it is what it is

Similar to "is what it was" but refers to a current, rather than past, unchangeable situation.

was what it was

Focuses solely on the past, accepting a previous unchangeable situation.

it was

Shortened past-tense form, suitable when the subject is already understood.

that is

Used to clarify or provide more detail about a previous statement.

that was

Refers to something specific in the past.

it is

Simple present tense form, stating a fact or current condition.

the situation is

More formal way to describe a present state of affairs.

the circumstance was

More formal phrasing to indicate a state of affairs in the past.

that's how it was

Indicates acceptance and finality regarding a past situation.

FAQs

What does it mean when someone says "is was"?

The phrase "is was" is generally a grammatical error, possibly caused by a confusion between present and past tenses. The speaker likely intended to use either "is" or "was", depending on the context.

How can I correct the phrase "is was" in my writing?

To correct "is was", determine whether the sentence refers to the present or the past. If it's the present, use "is"; if it's the past, use "was". For example, instead of "The problem is was difficult", write "The problem "was" difficult" (past) or "The problem "is" difficult" (present).

Are there situations where "is was" could be used intentionally?

While grammatically incorrect in standard English, "is was" might be used intentionally in informal speech or creative writing to indicate a character's dialect, express confusion, or create a specific stylistic effect. However, this is rare and should be used cautiously.

What are some alternatives to "is was" that avoid grammatical errors?

Depending on the intended meaning, alternatives to "is was" include phrases like "it is", "it was", or rephrasing the sentence to use a different verb tense altogether. Always consider the context to choose the most appropriate and grammatically correct option.