it even was

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it even was" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to emphasize a surprising or unexpected fact in a narrative or description. Example: "I thought the event would be dull, but it even was the highlight of my week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

If it even was a TV series at all.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

It even was second in viewers 18 to 34.

The New York Times - Arts

"We built TriBeCa before it even was TriBeCa".

The New York Times

I never dreamed it even was a career," he said.

The New York Times

Speculation continued about who was responsible for the assassination, or whether it even was an assassination.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Naraoia (14) was an unusual trilobite, if indeed it even was a member of that taxon.

Stanford University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

Is it even being demanded?

The New York Times

Can it even be found?

The New Yorker

Will it even be scary?

The New York Times

Had it even been an invasion?

The New Yorker

Could it even be said to exist?

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it even was" to express surprise or emphasize a fact that might not have been expected, adding a layer of unexpectedness to your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "it even was" excessively in highly formal or academic writing. While grammatically correct, it can sometimes sound less sophisticated than alternatives like "it truly was" or "it certainly was".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it even was" functions as an emphatic declarative statement, asserting a fact with an element of surprise or unexpectedness. As shown in Ludwig, this construction is grammatically sound and used to highlight an attribute or condition.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Academia

19%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it even was" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to emphasize a surprising or unexpected fact. According to Ludwig, this phrase is most frequently found in News & Media, but also appears in academic and scientific contexts. While versatile, it is advisable to consider more formal alternatives like "it truly was" or "it certainly was" in highly formal writing. The linguistic analysis indicates that the phrase functions as an emphatic declarative statement, adding a layer of surprise or unexpectedness to the assertion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it truly was

Emphasizes the truth or reality of the statement.

it actually was

Highlights the factual nature of the statement, often against expectations.

it really was

Stresses the genuineness or authenticity of the statement.

it certainly was

Indicates a high degree of certainty or confidence in the statement.

it indeed was

Confirms or acknowledges the statement, often with a formal tone.

it happened to be

Suggests that something was true by chance or coincidence.

it turned out to be

Reveals a final or unexpected state of something.

it came to be

Describes the process or manner in which something became true.

it proved to be

Indicates that something was shown or demonstrated to be true.

it just was

Emphasizes the simplicity or inevitability of the statement.

FAQs

How can I use "it even was" in a sentence?

Use "it even was" to emphasize an unexpected or surprising fact. For example, "I expected the meeting to be boring, but "it even was" quite productive."

What's the difference between "it even was" and "it was even"?

"It was even" typically indicates that something was on par with or similar to other things in a series. "It even was" emphasizes surprise or unexpectedness about the nature of the subject.

Are there any contexts where "it even was" might not be appropriate?

While grammatically correct, ""it even was"" may sound less formal. In very formal or academic writing, consider alternatives like "it indeed was".

What can I say instead of "it even was" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives like "it truly was", "it certainly was", or "it indeed was".