it's traffic

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it's traffic" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the presence of congestion or delays on the road, often in response to a question about why someone is late or experiencing delays. Example: "I apologize for being late to the meeting; it's traffic that held me up."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Unfortunately, it didn't quite capture the public's imagination beyond it's traffic spike from appearing on TechCrunch.com.

TechCrunch

By getting sites to embed its retweet button, it's traffic has gone through the roof and it is already being talked about in terms of an acquisition by Twitter at some point.

TechCrunch

Flash-forward four years and hats off to Arianna, Kenny, Roy, and many more like all-star Colin, who have grown this site to the point where it's traffic is running approximately twice of what Drudge's was in September.

Huffington Post

It's traffic.

The Guardian - Opinion

"They say it's traffic calming but by the time you get here you're so enraged because you have only two lanes left and some guy double parked.

The New York Times

But quickly it was overrun by pervs, and it's traffic went limp.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

The street is weirdly timeless -- in part because it's traffic-free -- lined with clapboard row houses built in the middle of the 19th century.

The New York Times

"You can say it's trafficking for labor exploitation.

The New York Times

During our tenure in the taxi, my husband told me that it's "traffic-light-traffic".

Huffington Post

But as despairing as it is, "Traffic" is not cynical.

The New York Times

He added, "I would remind people it is traffic citations".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When explaining why you're late, use "it's traffic" to give a quick, easily understood reason.

Common error

Avoid using "its" (possessive) when you mean "it's" (it is). "It's traffic" means "it is traffic", while "its" would be incorrect in this context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it's traffic" functions as an explanation or a reason for a delay or problem. It's a shorthand way of saying that traffic is the cause. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Wiki

11%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it's traffic" is a grammatically correct and common phrase used to explain delays or congestion. Ludwig AI validates its usability. It functions as a brief explanation, suitable for both informal and neutral registers. When writing, be mindful of confusing "it's" with "its". Alternatives like "traffic is congested" can be used for a more formal tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there's a traffic jam

Replaces the contraction and emphasizes the congestion.

traffic is congested

More formal and directly states the condition of traffic.

traffic is heavy

Describes the intensity of traffic flow.

there are traffic delays

Focuses on the delays caused by the traffic.

traffic is slow-moving

Highlights the speed of the traffic.

there's gridlock

Indicates a complete standstill in traffic.

the roads are jammed

Informal way of saying traffic is very heavy.

traffic is backed up

Describes the queue of traffic.

the traffic is at a standstill

Emphasizes the complete lack of movement.

there's bumper-to-bumper traffic

Highlights the close proximity of vehicles in traffic.

FAQs

How can I use "it's traffic" in a sentence?

You can use "it's traffic" to explain a delay, for example: "I'm late because "it's traffic" out there."

What's a more formal way to say "it's traffic"?

More formal alternatives include "traffic is congested" or "there are traffic delays".

Is "it's traffic" grammatically correct?

Yes, "it's traffic" is grammatically correct as a shortened form of "it is traffic".

What's the difference between "its" and "it's"?

"It's" is a contraction of "it is" or "it has", while "its" is a possessive pronoun. Therefore, "it's traffic" means "it is traffic".