it basically was

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it basically was" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to summarize or simplify a situation or statement, indicating that the essence of something is being conveyed. Example: "After reviewing the evidence, it basically was a case of miscommunication that led to the misunderstanding."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

The society described its program as a "tribute to Vienna," which it basically was, except when it wasn't.

The New York Times - Arts

"Just one week later, it had rained a lot and then it basically was gone," Mr. Gilbert said.

The New York Times - Science

Dumping industrial waste into the river was not illegal then, and as a result it became so polluted that it basically was left for dead.

The New York Times

"It basically was created to have an outlet for Friday nights for our friends," says Hanratty of his new tradition of taking back the start of the weekend in the basement of Santos.

The New York Times

"The way I understood it, basically, was that Claude Shannon, in 1948, worked on compressing files from the top down, using coding trees, whereas David Huffman, a few years later, approached it from the bottom up".

The New Yorker

Smith made it because he knew that deep down it basically was not true, and it was certainly not true of that day in July last year when Dewar gave Scotland its parliament.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Glover grinned and said, "It basically is".

The New Yorker

It basically is multipath Ethernet.

Journal of Cloud Computing

Which, come to think of it, it basically is.

Los Angeles Times

That's it basically isn't it, yes.

BMC Health Services Research

It would basically be impossible".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for a more formal or precise tone, consider alternatives like "it essentially was" or "it fundamentally was".

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on "basically" as it can weaken your writing. Vary your language by using more descriptive and precise terms that capture the essence of what you're describing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it basically was" functions as a declarative statement, summarizing or simplifying a situation. It presents a subjective interpretation, as shown by Ludwig's examples, where different situations are reduced to their core essence.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Science

21%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it basically was" is a versatile phrase used to provide a simplified explanation of a situation, making it easy to grasp the core idea. Ludwig's analysis indicates it's grammatically correct and commonly used in news and media, though leaning towards informal contexts. While effective for quick summaries, avoid overusing "basically" to maintain writing strength. Consider alternatives like "it essentially was" or "it fundamentally was" for more formal tones. According to Ludwig, the phrase's usage is generally accepted and serves to convey the essence of a situation concisely.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it essentially was

Replaces "basically" with "essentially", indicating a fundamental nature.

it fundamentally was

Substitutes "basically" with "fundamentally", emphasizing the core aspect.

it largely was

Uses "largely" instead of "basically", suggesting a primary but not exclusive characteristic.

it mostly was

Replaces "basically" with "mostly", indicating a majority.

it primarily was

Substitutes "basically" with "primarily", denoting the main aspect.

it effectively was

Uses "effectively" instead of "basically", implying a practical result.

it virtually was

Replaces "basically" with "virtually", suggesting near equivalence.

it practically was

Substitutes "basically" with "practically", indicating a real-world effect.

in essence, it was

Rephrases to emphasize the core meaning, using "in essence".

in effect, it was

Replaces "basically" with "in effect", emphasizing the result or consequence.

FAQs

What does "it basically was" mean?

The phrase "it basically was" means that something was essentially or fundamentally a particular thing, offering a simplified understanding of the situation.

When is it appropriate to use "it basically was"?

It's appropriate to use "it basically was" when you want to provide a quick and easy-to-understand summary of a situation, without delving into intricate details.

What are some alternatives to "it basically was"?

You can use alternatives like "it essentially was", "it fundamentally was", or "it largely was" depending on the context.

Is "it basically was" formal or informal?

"It basically was" is generally considered informal. For more formal writing, consider phrases such as "it essentially was" or "it fundamentally was".