it's was

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it's was" is not correct in written English.
It is a combination of two different verb forms that cannot be used together in this way. Example: "It's was a great day" is incorrect; it should be "It was a great day."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's been 16 years since Redding's crash.

Vice

It's been 10 years since my mother's murder.

The Guardian - Opinion

It's been 150 metres.

Independent

It's been 15 months.

Independent

Partly it's being 47.

Independent

It's been 30 years.

The New York Times

Now, it's been 30 years.

The New York Times

"It's been 42 years of ignorance".

The New York Times

"And it's been 26 years.

The New York Times

"It's been 19 years for me.

The New York Times - Arts

It's been 10 months.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "it's was" in your writing, as it is grammatically incorrect. Choose either "it was" for past tense or "it is" for present tense.

Common error

Do not combine the contraction "it's" (it is) with the past tense "was". "It's" already implies a present tense state. Use "it was" to indicate a past state.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it's was" is a grammatically incorrect construction. The contraction "it's" stands for "it is", which is present tense, while "was" is past tense. These two cannot be used together. As Ludwig AI mentions, it is a combination of two different verb forms that cannot be used together.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it's was" is grammatically incorrect because it combines the present tense contraction "it's" (it is) with the past tense verb "was". Ludwig AI indicates that this combination is not correct in written English. To express a past state, use "it was". Due to its incorrectness, "it's was" should be avoided in all forms of writing and speech. There are no examples of correct usage of this phrase. Remember to use "it was" to refer to the past.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was

Corrects the grammatical error by using the past tense form of "to be" without the contraction.

it is

Corrects the grammatical error by using the present tense form of "to be" without implying past tense.

it has been

Uses the present perfect tense to indicate something that started in the past and continues to the present.

that was

Shifts the subject slightly while maintaining the past tense.

it used to be

Indicates a past state that is no longer true.

it had been

Uses the past perfect tense to describe something that happened before another point in the past.

it will be

Shifts to future tense while correcting the grammar.

it is going to be

Another future tense alternative, expressing intention or prediction.

that is

Shifts the subject slightly while using present tense.

what it was

Introduces a clause that describes the past state.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "it's was"?

The correct phrasing depends on the intended tense. Use "it was" for past tense or "it is" (or "it's") for present tense.

Can I ever use "it's" and "was" together in a sentence?

No, "it's was" is grammatically incorrect. You should use "it was" to refer to the past or "it is" or "it's" for the present.

What are some alternatives to "it's was" for expressing a past condition?

Use "it was", "that was", or "it used to be" to correctly indicate a past state or condition.

Why is "it's was" considered incorrect?

"It's" is a contraction of "it is", which is present tense. "Was" is past tense. You cannot combine a present tense contraction with a past tense verb. Always choose "it was" when indicating a past state.