it existed that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it existed that" is not correct and not usable in written English.
It seems to be an incorrect construction and does not convey a clear meaning in standard English usage. Example: "It existed that there was a time when people believed the earth was flat."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

It existed: that was enough.

The New Yorker

"ONE simple way to assess the impact of any organisation is to answer the question: how is the world different because it existed?" That is the test set out by Sam Palmisano in the foreword to a new book celebrating the 100th birthday of IBM, the firm he has run since 2002.

The Economist

Until my consort got work on Pantelleria, I didn't even know it existed, that there was more of Italy west and south of Sicily.

The New York Times - Food

According to a spokesperson, as it existed, that feature wasn't as high-quality as the rest of the GitHub experience, and it didn't fit well into most user workflows.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

He said Americans would not give up their constitutional right to bear arms -- a right, if it exists, that is not at all involved in the proposed treaty.

The New York Times

If it exists, that is.

Huffington Post

It's nice that it exists that way, but do you actually want to hear it that way?

Huffington Post

Wittgenstein famously wrote: "It is not how things are in the world that is mystical, but that it exists"' — that there is a world at all.

The New Yorker

"I love that it exists, that people would come and sit on not comfortable chairs and listen to people tell stories".

The New York Times - Arts

At present, it exists that the information level of coal mine production and management is low.

Procedia Engineering

And it didn't exist that day.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "it existed that" in formal writing. Opt for clearer and more grammatically correct alternatives such as "it was the case that" or "there was a time when".

Common error

Do not assume that "it existed that" is a standard or acceptable way to introduce a clause. This construction often results in awkward or ungrammatical sentences. Always double-check the phrasing and consider alternatives.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it existed that" functions as a clausal introducer, attempting to introduce a subordinate clause specifying a past state or condition. However, this construction is not grammatically sound in standard English. Ludwig shows that this construction is not well supported.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

29%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it existed that" is generally considered grammatically incorrect and is not recommended for use in formal or even informal writing. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this construction is awkward and lacks support in standard English. While it appears in some contexts like News & Media and Science, it's advisable to use clearer alternatives such as "it was the case that" or "there was a time when" to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness. Opting for these alternatives will improve the overall quality and readability of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was the case that

Rephrases the idea to focus on a past reality or condition.

there was a time when

Emphasizes a past period when something was true.

it happened that

Indicates that something occurred by chance or circumstance.

it came to pass that

A more formal and literary way of saying something happened.

it turned out that

Focuses on the eventual discovery or realization of something.

it was apparent that

Highlights that something was clearly evident or obvious.

it was known that

Emphasizes that something was a recognized fact.

it was established that

Indicates that something had been proven or confirmed.

it was determined that

Suggests that something was decided or concluded after investigation.

it was revealed that

Highlights the uncovering of something previously unknown.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "it existed that" to improve clarity?

Consider using phrases like "it was the case that", "there was a time when", or simply rephrasing the sentence to use a more direct construction.

Is "it existed that" grammatically correct in English?

No, the phrase "it existed that" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Standard English usage prefers alternatives that are clearer and more concise.

What are some contexts where I might mistakenly use "it existed that"?

You might be tempted to use "it existed that" when trying to express a past state or condition. However, it's better to use phrases that directly state the condition or occurrence, such as "it happened that" or "it turned out that".

What's a more formal alternative to "it existed that"?

A more formal and grammatically sound alternative would be "it was established that" or "it was determined that", depending on the context.